Transport Minister Meets With Azores Airline

September 16, 2016

Tourism, Transport & Municipalities Minister Michael Fahy met with Azores airline SATA to “explore opportunities that might help increase airlift to Bermuda,” with Minister Fahy saying the “discussions were fruitful and we shall continue to dialogue.”

Minister Fahy met with Duarte Carreiro, the international managing director from SATA Azores Airlines, who was recently in Bermuda.

In response to queries from Bernews, Minister Fahy said, “We did indeed meet with SATA Airlines as we do with many airlines to explore opportunities that might help increase airlift to Bermuda. The discussions were fruitful and we shall continue to dialogue.”

SATA airline TC generic 098234

SATA was founded in 1941 and is now made up of six companies – SATA Air Acores, SATA Internacional, SATA Express, Azores Express, SATA Gestão de Aeródromos, and SATA SGPS, with their headquarters in the city of Ponta Delgada, isle of São Miguel, Azores.

According to the company’s website, “A subsidiary of SATA Air Açores and licensed to operate outside the Azores, SATA Internacional originated from the conversion of Oceanair, an airline purchased by SATA Air Açores in 1994.

“After 50 years operating between the islands of the Azores, SATA began operating non-regular charter flights for domestic and foreign tourist operators in 1995 using a Boeing 737/300.

“Today the airline flies regularly to destinations such as Lisbon, Porto, Funchal, Frankfurt, London, Manchester, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Zurich, Copenhagen, Boston and Toronto.

“From the outset it has run and is still expanding a significant charter operation. The Dominican Republic, Cuba, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Lyon, Exeter, East Midlands, are just some of the destinations visited over the past years.”

The only airline that currently offers regular direct service from Bermuda to anywhere in Europe is British Airways, which provides flights to the UK, and will be celebrating 80 years of service to Bermuda next year.

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Comments (37)

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  1. Terry says:

    They fly to the US?
    They fly to Germany?
    They fly right over us………………………..

    Britania still rules………………………

  2. mixitup says:

    Any conversation with Caribbean Airlines? A link there would be welcomed 3 flights a weeks, 1/3 to Kingston, 2/3 to Port of Spain and the third maybe Cayman or Montego Bay.

    • mixitup says:

      Bermuda is the Only Country in the entire western hemisphere that doesn’t have a direct link to the Caribbean..

  3. Unbelievable says:

    This could be a great development.

    • Onion Juice says:

      Getting ready for de PRC’s to stack de election.

      • Sickofantz says:

        You know PRC’S can’t vote right?

        • Dat Bie says:

          Onion Juice is one dopey bie!

        • Onion Juice says:

          PRC’s is the first step.

          • rich says:

            Good. These people deserve the right to vote.

            • mixitup says:

              Oh please… No they do not. I will tell you who is deserving, Bermudians deserve jobs and opportunity in their country.. They deserve to be able to live and not feel pushed to the sidelines in their country or even out of their home to live elsewhere where they can make ends meet. They deserve to live the Bermudian dream and have avenues to purchase homes in their country, they deserve the Gov’t to put the same emphasis on Education as they do PRC status/voting rights, they don’t deserve to have PRC’s come to their home in droves living better than them and now wanting voting rights..

              • Onion Juice says:

                Watch ‘When Voices Rise’ and you will get a better understanding what we’re going through.

                • Mercy says:

                  “What were going through?” Who’s we? Could “we” be the average Bermudian? What does the average Bermudian look like to you OJ?

        • Time Shall Tell says:

          @ Sickofantz Evidence by past attempts has proven that the OBA are working on it though.

  4. Realist says:

    another flight from either Gatwick or Heathrow is needed to! BA prices are ridiculous!

    • Terry says:

      Why not fly to Portugal then Bermuda.

      You lot hall dee saim……….

  5. (What a good idea) says:

    A direct flight would be so great! The last time I was able to fly direct to the Azores from Bermuda was 1959, direct flights discontinued shortly after that. Sign me: What a good idea.

  6. Conderned family man says:

    What is missing is a direct flight to Germany. 80 million people, the country with the most holiday for employees in the world (ordinary workers start with 4 weeks, most people have 6 weeks), world champion in traveling, after ISIS many don’t know where to go: 2 million Germans used to go to Tunisia every year, 1.5 million to Egypt, and 5 million to Turkey…
    Right now there are about 10 weekly direct flights to Cuba (big hit, they knew how to get into the market), about 15 weekly flights to Dominican Republic, but that is mainly the low end tourists, and just int he winter months. We would be a summer destination. 100 thousands of Germans fly to Australia (really expensive), New Zealand, and other top destinations. Advertise safety, golf, beaches, marriage, heritage, beaut, colonial style …
    Most Germans under 70 are fluent in English.

    • wondering says:

      that’s too simple – we always go the longest most convoluted direction forst…

  7. Weirdos says:

    So we’ve been complaining for years about an alternative route to Europe but complain that conversations are happening to get it done? Shows you how much Bermudians enjoy their false social hierarchy…gotta keep some people below us huh? Bermuda doesn’t even have its own airline lol how’s that for accomplishment?

  8. Just Say Yes! says:

    Great!! Perhaps they can negotiate a less expensive alternative for travel between Bermuda and the UK. While we are on the subject of airlift, can he please get some competition into the Atlanta-Bermuda market as currently it is cheaper to go to Dubai and other destinations that it is to get to Bermuda from such a large gateway city. That looks to be low hanging fruit!!

    • PBanks says:

      AirTran was around for a bit for that Atlanta route, but I guess it wasn’t successful. Maybe the demand just wasn’t there?

  9. Wayne says:

    Hmmmmmm… we have a DIRECT route to the UK from Bermuda….a DIRECT flight to Canada from Bermuda….a DIRECT flight to the USA from Bermuda…..and now courting a DIRECT flight from the Azores to Bermuda.

    That takes care of all of the Bermuda status seekers except who?….yup, you got it!….EXCEPT the people who look like “US”! What happened to seeking a flight that flies directly to the Caribbean where sooooo many of our ROOTS are?

    Yes, all by design once again to keep us divided and it shows Fahy is damn determined to bolster his support by courting those who have been lambasting Governmen about the Immigration issue

    Hey fahy…next time you feel like courting an airline, try Caribbean Airlines, Bahamas Air, Liat, Cape Air, Winair, Air Sunshine, Air Caraibes, Cubana and Air Turks & Caicos…but then again that would keep “US” too closely knitted

    • rich says:

      The Portuguese community here were proactive in seeking these flights and pushed the airline in the Azores to consider this for years. Furthermore, this comes at a time of rapid and aggressive expansion for SATA.

      So this came as a perfect storm. And it was the local Portuguese community who lobbied the local government to have these meetings. Fahy didn’t ‘court’ anyone, nor is it a done deal at this stage.

      If you want air links to the islands to the south, which I agree would be great, then start lobbying those airlines and local politicians. Be proactive about it.

    • yes I says:

      Wayne as much as we would all love a direct link to the Caribbean I have to admit that the majority of the airlines which you have mentioned wouldn’t be up to the task even if given an opportunity. The others would be highly challenged to adjust their flight schedules and aircraft utilization to meet our needs even if just for one flight per week. We need another plan mate.

    • PBanks says:

      I’m all for a direct link to the Caribbean, but pinning this as a failure on Fahy (and a deliberate/premeditated one at that) is ludicrous.

      Of the airlines mentioned, either the interest isn’t there or the finances isn’t there. Or in the case of Liat, the airplanes aren’t going to make it that far.

      The Miami link established some years back, is a start. It’s not ideal, but it’s a start, and at least opened the market up a good chunk to not just the Caribbean market but the Central American one.

    • Spit Bouy says:

      @ Wayne,

      How about YOU and others who wish to see that start to lobby the airlines and make it happen. You know like the Portuguese commuinty have done. Oh snap, I forgot, that’s not your responsibility is it? SMDH

      Sad, victim mentality syndrome for sure.

  10. rich says:

    “Today the airline flies regularly to destinations such as Lisbon, Porto, Funchal, Frankfurt, London, Manchester, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Zurich, Copenhagen, Boston and Toronto.”

    This is what’s most interesting about this news. The local Portuguese community will certainly be excited about visiting home. But for the rest of us, the idea of connections further afield could be great. Even a connection through there to compete with the BA monopoly to London would be welcome news.

    • rich says:

      Furthermore, Ryanair and Easyjet now service the Azores. So this would greatly expand travel opportunities for Bermudians.

  11. Shernette Wolffe says:

    I too would like to see a direct link to the Caribbean eg Caribbean Airlines instead of always going through chaotic Miami airport. They offer a fine service comparable to American Airlines