Azores Airlines. Consortium awaits workers' decision

The Newtour/MS Aviation consortium, interested in purchasing Azores Airlines, warned this Thursday that it is awaiting a "definitive decision" from employees regarding the company's future, as negotiations with management "are close to completion."

"Newtour/MS Aviation has a strategic vision for the day after the SATA acquisition—if that day ever comes—a strategy already shared with SATA Holding and the unions. But a robust strategy is useless without support to implement it," the group said in a statement.

The consortium warns that "usual solutions will not guarantee the future" of SATA, which "urgently needs operational stability" to "regain market confidence."

" It is crucial that pilots and cabin crew state whether they are for or against the plan and clarify all their doubts. The group awaits, with the serenity that the sense of urgency allows, a definitive decision from the workers, resulting from an open and constructive discussion," they insist.

Newtour/MS Aviation states that negotiations with SATA management “are progressing positively and are close to completion” and calls for a response from workers.

"Since the Civil Aviation Pilots Union now recognizes the existence of a proposal presented by the group, it is expected that those who represent them will submit the document for their consideration. It is up to the workers—and only them—to analyze and decide," they emphasize .

Antena 1/Açores reported this Thursday that the Pilots' Union met with the president of the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) and dropped the possibility of an agreement between the pilots and the consortium.

The consortium highlights that, between 2022 and 2024, the number of employees in the company “grew by 25%, going from 652 to 815”, while personnel expenses increased from “41 million to almost 67 million euros”.

"Once and for all, SATA must adjust its operations to its operational capacity. This is the path to a sustainable company, one that provides better service to customers and guarantees job security for its employees," they argue.

The group that intends to buy Azores Airlines also highlights that “costs for external supplies and services increased by 70%” and that spending on ACMI (aircraft leasing with crew) “skyrocketed from 4.4 million to 28 million euros” between 2022 and 2024.

"The urgency in taking a position is not imposed by the group. It is a requirement of SATA itself, which cannot tolerate a 15% loss in revenue for much longer, and it stems from the commitments made by the [Regional] Government," they warn.

The consortium guarantees that it is available to “restore the necessary stability to the airline”.

"What we ask of employees is their active support for the transformation. We are certain that SATA's future depends on collective commitment," emphasizes the Newtour/MS Aviation group.

On Friday, the Government of the Azores stated that if there is no agreement between unions and the consortium and a proposal by the end of the month, the privatization of Azores Airlines will have to undergo private negotiations.

In June 2022, the European Commission approved Portuguese state aid to support the airline's restructuring of €453.25 million in loans and state guarantees, providing for measures such as a reorganization of the structure and the divestment of a controlling stake (51%).