The Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works announced Monday that Azores Airlines will resume the Terceira-Porto flight connection.
After being heard by the Committee on Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly on matters pertaining to transport, accessibility and port infrastructures on Terceira Island Ana Cunha announced that this flight connection will be resumed in the IATA winter.
The Secretary for Transport also stated that the certification of the Lajes Air Base runway for civil use "will take place until the end of July."
Concerning infrastructures, Ana Cunha explained that the beginning of the works in the cargo terminal of Lajes Civil Air Terminal, "which was dependent on the transfer of land to the Region, has already been solved. The transfer process should be formalised until the end of June."
"In accordance with the tender procedures, the selected company will be notified of the awarding of the contract work and, if everything runs smoothly, the works are expected to begin by the end of September," stated the government official.
As for maritime transport, more specifically the Transhipment terminal, Ana Cunha mentioned that a "resolution of the Council of the Government was issued last May authorising the Regional Port Authorities to launch the procedures for granting the concession" of this terminal. Moreover, "the Regional Government, through the Regional Port Authorities, is already working on the development of the cruise terminal at the so-called American quay. This is option is being considered in the context of a study conducted by the Regional Port Authorities on the redevelopment of Praia da Vitória Port bay.
With regard to the Purple Line, the Regional Secretary stated that Atlânticoline had already scheduled three trips on occasion of Sanjoaninas festivities. "Similarly to the trips scheduled during the municipal festivities in Calheta, São Jorge Island, the Sanjoaninas festivities on Terceira Island would also have three scheduled trips in three weeks."
Also at this hearing, the Regional Secretary made an assessment of the situation regarding the development of the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) terminal at Praia da Vitória Port, restating that the "Government intends to move forward with this project."
Ana Cunha pointed out the "consulting agreement signed with the European Investment Bank for the study of the various implications of this LNG project at Praia da Vitória Port."
According to the Regional Secretary, "we intended to make an assessment of everything that was included in the Government's programme for the island of Terceira in these areas and I believe that we have managed to do so at this meeting."