1st quarter indicators encourage challenge of reinforcing SATA's capacity to serve the Azores and the Azoreans
The President of the Government stated today that Grupo SATA Group presents several indicators in the first quarter of this year that "are on the right track" in the recovery of the company, but it should not distract us from the size of this challenge.
"With regard to the first quarter of this year, we have some indicators that encourage us. We have indicators that, for example, show us that there are savings of 20 percent in fuel consumption," said Vasco Cordeiro.
In the debate about SATA at the Legislative Assembly, the President of the Government also stated that the arrival of the first Airbus A321 NEO LR is scheduled for July. This new aircraft will significantly reduce the use of ACMI, while improving the frequency of operations and cost containment.
In terms of revenue, an annual growth of around eight percent is estimated as a result of the improvements registered in the first three months of this year.
There is also an improvement of about four percentage points in the load factor of Azores Airlines and the number of passengers transported by this company grew about 8.5 percent in the first quarter of this year.
Before the members of the Regional Parliament, Vasco Cordeiro assured that these "indicators are on the right track," but they should not "minimise the challenges" that Grupo SATA is facing.
During this parliamentary debate, the President of the Government also pointed out that the use of ACMI is mainly due to unforeseeable situations in the company's operation, pointing out the example of aircraft maintenance, which may take longer than originally scheduled.
"Naturally, SATA has to respond to these situations," Vasco Cordeiro said, stressing that that the Government is aware that there is always room for improvement, an effort that is being undertaken."
"I restate that there must be room for improvement. About this, let there be no doubt," the President of the Government stressed, noting that "the primary purpose of SATA is to serve the Azores and the Azoreans."
According to him, serving the Azores has a broader meaning than merely serving the mobility of the Azoreans, pointing out the example of the referral mechanism, which has managed to redirect the flow of tourists visiting the Region to all islands.
The President of the Government also recalled that, in previous years, the survival of the region's tourism sector depended on SATA. In this regard, he announced that the management agreement is at the final stage of preparation and it should be finalised next month.