The Regional Secretary for the Economy finally revealed this morning that the first meeting between the Government of the Azores and the National Government to discuss the amendment proposal on the air transport Public Service Obligations in the Azores has been scheduled.

During the discussion of the Draft Resolution submitted by CDS-PP - which recommends the increase in the frequency of flights and the number of promotional fares in the flight connections between the Azores and Mainland Portugal - Luísa Schanderl revealed that "we finally have a date set for a meeting to start the debate, which is scheduled for September 12."

The government official said she expects "greater openness on the part of the State Secretary of Public Works regarding the approval of our model."
Should this happen, stated Luísa Schanderl, "the proposal presented by CDS will be fully implemented as the factors depending on the new public service obligations are comprised" in the proposal.

According to the government official, CDS-PP claims are partly addressed in the proposed Public Service Obligations as they were submitted to the National Government about a year ago.

Luisa Schanderl also revealed that the Regional Government's Public Service Obligations proposal increases the frequency of the flight connection Lisbon-Terceira, which will increase from one flight per week to five. This model also includes a weekly flight connection Porto-Terceira throughout the year.

In addition, the frequency of the flight connections Lisbon-Pico and Lisbon-Santa Maria will increase with the inclusion of another two weekly flights throughout the year.

With regard to air fares, the government official revealed that this Public Service Obligations proposal "introduces a fare that will allow a reduction of about 40% in the resident and student fares. In terms of promotional fares, this proposal "defends at least 20% of seats in promotional fares"; these 20% ensure quantity, but not the amounts."

Thus being, concluded Luísa Schanderl, "our proposal defends 10% of seats, whereas one of the fares must have a 30% discount on the resident fare in force."