The SATA Group on Wednesday presented its flight program for the IATA Summer 2026 season, with a primary focus on strengthening air links between mainland Portugal and the Azores while maintaining consistent service to North America.

According to the company, the summer schedule emphasizes efficient use of resources to ensure a sustainable operation, built on the complementary roles of Azores Airlines and SATA Air Açores. Together, the two airlines will operate more than 800 flights per week to and from the Azores archipelago.

In a statement, the company said the summer operation will feature increased frequencies on the Lisbon–Ponta Delgada, Lisbon–Terceira, and Porto–Ponta Delgada routes. To concentrate capacity on the most in-demand markets, the group will not resume routes that previously showed weaker performance, instead reallocating resources to domestic services.

Inter-island service will remain largely in line with the summer of 2025, with targeted reinforcements on routes that traditionally record load factors above 90 percent.

Tiago Santos, president of SATA Holding, said the 2026 summer plan reflects “an unwavering commitment to the Azores and to its diaspora.”

“By strengthening domestic connections, ensuring connectivity with North America, and optimizing the use of our fleet, we are building a more sustainable operation focused on what matters most: serving Azoreans and guaranteeing accessibility and mobility throughout the archipelago,” Santos said.

For Azores Airlines, flights to New York and Montreal will continue, as will the route linking the Azores to Praia, Cabo Verde, which also provides additional connectivity to Boston. In the European market, year-round routes to Paris and Barcelona will operate throughout the summer, while the seasonal Frankfurt service will also resume.

SATA Air Açores said it plans to operate approximately 570 inter-island flights per week, covering 16 routes with a fleet of seven aircraft. The airline will reinforce services between Ponta Delgada and Terceira, Pico, Horta, and Flores, citing high occupancy rates recorded in 2025, particularly between June and September.

As in previous years, the operation may be temporarily expanded during periods of peak demand, especially around major regional festivities.

The company also highlighted that joint planning between Azores Airlines and SATA Air Açores integrates public service obligation routes, liberalized services, and national and international destinations converging in the Azores. Schedule coordination between the two carriers remains a priority, allowing passengers arriving through multiple gateways to continue on to any island with short connection times.

The summer schedule is now available for booking. Some additional frequency increases may still depend on the allocation of airport slots, though these are not expected to affect the routes already announced. The group said it does not currently anticipate the need to contract ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) services. SATA Air Açores also plans to add an additional Bombardier Q400 aircraft to its fleet starting in June.

SATA Airlines Renew IATA Certifications

SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines have also renewed their environmental and safety certifications from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

In a press release, the SATA Group said the renewal of its IEnvA (IATA Environmental Assessment) certification reaffirms its commitment to sustainable practices in aviation. The renewal of the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) registration, obtained in December, confirms compliance with international standards, the robustness of its safety management systems, and the continued adoption of operational practices aligned with the industry’s highest benchmarks.

“These two certifications, different in scope and focus, recognize the adoption of best practices in operational safety and environmental management,” the group said.

For the first time, the Maintenance and Engineering departments of both SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines also received IEnvA accreditation, formally joining the group’s environmental management system alongside the Flight Operations and Corporate Activities divisions, whose certifications were renewed.

In Diário dos Açores-Paulo Viveiros, 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.