The network of air connections between the continent and the Azores continues to be adjusted with new routes and capacity reinforcements, in a move that seeks to respond to the growing demand for travel between the two territories. The most recent change involves the opening of a direct connection to one of the least served islands in the archipelago.
According to , TAP Air Portugal started to operate a new route between Lisbon and the island of Santa Maria, in the Azores, reinforcing the company’s presence in the archipelago. The connection began with two weekly frequencies, scheduled for Thursdays and Sundays.
According to the same source, flights depart from Lisbon in the early afternoon, arriving in Santa Maria shortly afterwards, while the return to the capital takes place on the same day, in the late afternoon.
Operation adjusted throughout the year
The operation will vary depending on the time of year, with different aircraft assigned to the route. The same source says that, during the summer, the Airbus A320neo will be used, with greater passenger capacity, while for the rest of the year the connection will be made by the Embraer 190.
This adaptation allows supply to be adjusted to seasonal demand, maintaining connection regularity throughout the year.
Expansion of the network to the archipelago
The new route to Santa Maria appears as part of a broader set of changes in TAP’s operations to the Azores. It is also planned to open a new connection between Porto and the island of Terceira, scheduled to start at the beginning of July.
With these changes, the company reinforces its presence in the archipelago, where it already maintains regular connections with other islands from Lisbon.
More weekly connections between mainland and Azores
According to Jornal Económico, with the addition of these new routes to those already existing between Lisbon, Ponta Delgada and Terceira, TAP now offers a total of 48 weekly flights between the continent and the Azores archipelago.
The reinforcement of the operation is part of a strategy to increase air connectivity between regions, ensuring a greater frequency of connections throughout the week.
Also read:
