“The most basic fairness” is how Artur Lima describes the Incentive Program for Attracting New Air Routes to Lajes Civil Airport, approved by the Regional Government at a council meeting held this week. The goal, said the Vice President of the Regional Government, is “to establish conditions equivalent to those existing at other airports in the region.”

The incentives apply to new regular commercial air transport routes at Lajes Civil Airport, for certain types of flights, and will be implemented in phases, through exemptions or percentage reductions in passenger service charges. The exemptions granted reach 100% in the first year of operation, 75% in the second year, and 50% in the third year, to promote the implementation and consolidation of new air links during this period.

For Artur Lima, “it is essential that Lajes Civil Airport can benefit from these incentives. It is only fair, because it creates conditions identical to those applicable to other airports in the Azores.”

“We want to stimulate tourist demand and economic activity at the local and regional level. The expectation is that there will be gains in competitiveness not only on Terceira Island, but throughout the region,“ he said.

”This is also a program that seeks to strengthen Terceira’s air connectivity. It is precisely through this type of measure that economic and territorial cohesion in the archipelago can be ensured,” said Artur Lima.

The Incentive Program for Attracting New Air Routes to Lajes Civil Airport is part of the Azores Regional Government’s strategy to attract investment and promote and develop air access to the region, the official added.

SELLING SATA

The Government Council also approved a resolution regarding the transfer of SATA handling to SATA Holding, S.A., which was created as part of the SATA Group’s corporate reorganization process. The measure is part of SATA’s Restructuring Plan approved by the European Commission Decision of June 7, 2022, “which determines the need to separate the aforementioned economic unit in order to make it eligible for sale.”

In Diário Insular-José Lourenço-director

Translated into English as a community outreach program by the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL), in collaboration with Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno. PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.