SATA's summer operation for Faial with 55 thousand more seats than those occupied in 2017, says Ana Cunha
The Regional Secretary for Transport and Public Works spoke today at the Committee on Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly, stressing that SATA will provide 55 thousand more seats for Faial in the next IATA summer than those occupied last year.
According to Ana Cunha, "the supply of seats in the 2018 IATA summer is higher than the previous year." Overall, there will be 55 thousand more seats for all routes that include the island of Faial, compared to those ocuppied in 2017."
For the government official, "this is an adjustment to what was actually carried out last year; a necessary adjustment made in the planning of the 2018 operation."
The Regional Secretary also stated that the figures used by the Azorean Government on this portfolio, as in any other, are "credible figures" insofar as "they were provided by the airliner based on the operations that were actually carried out."
"There is, in fact, a surplus of supply. There was a surplus of supply in 2017 compared to 2016." According to Ana Cunha, the situation gave rise to a number of unused seats in operations from and to Faial Island. This has led SATA to make an adjustment of this year's supply of seats for the summer, more precisely in the months of July and August, to those occupied last year, always with room to boost growth."
Hence, "the supply is higher than the number of seats occupied in the months of July and August, making room for further growth in occupancy."
As the Regional Secretary mentioned, "the frequency of flights decreases by 17" in July and August, "as opposed to the increase registered during off-season months."
Ana Cunha also stressed that this "is a criterion chosen by SATA in the planning of the season and the operations for all its routes."