Ryanair's Azores exit leaves tourism in turmoil and fares set to rise
Ryanair Permanently Ends Azores Operations with Final Flight on Saturday
The airline carried around 100,000 tourists annually on its Ponta Delgada and Terceira routes but abandoned the region due to airport fees and European environmental taxes.
Last month, the Secretary for Tourism, Mobility, and Infrastructure stated that efforts were underway with TAP and SATA to mitigate Ryanair's departure, with initiatives to attract other carriers to the region in the "medium term."
The President of the Regional Government also confirmed that alternatives were being assessed to fill the gap left by the Irish low-cost carrier.
Full replacement of the lost capacity will not be possible this summer. With Ryanair's exit, travel prices to the Azores are now set to rise.
