The greatness of Pico does not lie in its size, but in its people—shaped by a history of courage that endures to this day.

Even amid persistent setbacks in accessibility, the people of Pico continue to demonstrate a new form of resilience. They have transformed ruins into lodgings of striking natural beauty, fostering growth that is rapidly becoming a case study in island reinvention. Where others might have seen limitation, Pico saw possibility.

Extending the island’s airport runway is not a luxury—it is an imperative. It represents the next qualitative leap for Pico’s economy, ensuring greater operational safety and reducing penalties for medium- and long-haul flights. Without it, the island remains partially constrained by geography; with it, Pico stands to unlock a fuller measure of its Atlantic promise.

At the first meeting of the working group, held last week in Madalena, key decisions were already made regarding the responsibilities assigned to each member, with a final recommendation scheduled for presentation to the Regional Government by the end of June. By all indications, the Municipality of Madalena is already well ahead in its preparatory work, having drafted an initial outline of the land parcels that would be affected by the runway expansion. This mapping is essential before notifying landowners—particularly those who cultivate vineyards, an inseparable part of Pico’s cultural landscape.

Another decisive element in this undertaking will be the involvement of ANAC, Portugal’s National Civil Aviation Authority, which will play a supervisory, regulatory, and approval role in the expansion process. SATA officials are expected to seek a meeting with ANAC in the coming days, likely during the Lisbon Tourism Fair. It is also known that ANAC representatives will be in Pico next month for other airport-related matters—an opportunity that may allow for further discussions with the working group.

As for financing, the project could exceed €30 million. There is growing confidence that the same national funding mechanism supporting the reconstruction of the Port of Flores may be accessed—potentially covering up to 85% of the investment. The Azores 20–30 Operational Program, once thought to include port and airport infrastructure, does not in fact provide for such works, making national co-financing essential.

The most complex phase will be the technical bureaucracy inherent in a project of this magnitude. Yet once the working group concludes its assessment by June 30, the expectation is clear: the Regional Government must move swiftly—launching tenders, initiating procedures, and advancing without hesitation on a project fundamental to Pico’s future accessibility.

Much time has already been lost.

And yet, Pico has endured. Its people have continued to believe in their island’s potential.

Despite runway limitations, Pico has become the fastest-growing tourism destination in the Azores. The island has made a bold commitment to local accommodation: 600 registered short-term rentals, totaling 3,000 beds—representing 73% of its lodging capacity—and generating an estimated €30 million impact on the island’s economy.

That is what resilience looks like.

Congratulations, Pico.

(Originally published in Portuguese in Jornal do Pico, February 2026)

Osvaldo Cabral is an emeritus journalist with over 40 years of experience covering the Azores. He was the director of RTP-A (the public television station) and the Diário dos Açores newspaper. He is a regular columnist for many newspapers throughout the Azpres and the Diaspora.

NOVIDADES will feature occasional opinion pieces from various leading thinkers and writers in the Azores, providing the diaspora and those interested in the current state of the Azores with insight into the diverse opinions on some of the archipelago’s key issues.

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL).