According to a press release from that Regional Secretariat, “according to the information available at the time, Visit Azores is actively engaged and maintaining direct and regular contact with Ryanair, so the statement issued is understood as premature.”

Ryanair intends to close all flights to the Azores from March 2026, citing high airport fees and “government inaction,” the low-cost airline announced today.

The Regional Secretariat says that the statement “contradicts, among other things, recent news and declarations from the company's CEO, in which he stated his willingness to invest in the Azores and reactivate the operational base in Ponta Delgada.”

In September, Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, announced four new routes in Portugal for the winter (originating in Porto, Faro, and Funchal), and, according to some news reports, the company – which has four bases at Portuguese airports (Porto, Lisbon, Faro, and Madeira) – had already requested the reopening of the base in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel.

The operator had previously threatened to abandon the Azores routes, which connect Lisbon and Porto to the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, and in 2023 reduced the number of flights on these routes.

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure “remains expectant regarding the work being developed by Visit Azores, recognizing that a complex process of interaction is taking place, involving various entities.” According to the Government of the Azores, “today, as has happened in past situations, there are issues allegedly related to airport fees and ETS (Extraordinary Tax Services) unrelated to the region.”

The president of Visit Azores, responsible for promoting tourism in the Azores, today considered Ryanair's announcement of its departure from the region as a “form of negotiating pressure,” warning that the process is not “completely closed.”

“Unfortunately, we are already used to this type of statement from Ryanair. It's how they exert pressure in negotiations within the regions where they operate,” Luís Capdeville Botelho told Lusa news agency.