United Airlines announced that starting June 6, it is resuming its seasonal route between Ponta Delgada Airport in the Azores and Newark Liberty/New York International Airport in the United States of America. The flights are scheduled to operate until September 27, 2023.
This route will complement United’s existing connections in Portugal, including the year-round daily nonstop service from Lisbon to New York/Newark and the seasonal service between Lisbon and Washington Dulles, as well as the connection between Porto and New York/Newark.
Jose Ferreira, the commercial manager in Portugal for United Airlines, expressed satisfaction with the return of the flight to Ponta Delgada for the 2023 summer season. He also emphasized how this route will facilitate easier access for visitors from the United States of America to the beautiful Azores islands.
Last year, United Airlines inaugurated seasonal flights, in May through September, from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada, Azores
The Azores are served by its own airline, SATA International/Azores Airlines connecting Ponta Delgada to Boston, New York, Oakland and Toronto in Canada. However, in the process of privatizing the Azores-based air carrier has raised its airfares to a hefty 200% for this summer high season.
Accordingly, a round trip between Boston and Ponta Delgada has been “brutally” increased to over USD$2,700, resulting in a 200% increase as of 2022 airfare tariffs, for the high traveling season which comprises the months of July and August. The move is causing quite a storm of protests in the United States and Canada, home to thousands of residents with roots in the Azores.
In recent years, SATA Airlines airfares, between the Azores and North America, averaged USD$ 1,000 dollars round trip, during the high season, and USD$600 for year-round trips during the low season.
The news has alarmed the communities abroad since the Azores-based SATA Airlines has been the main gateway connecting the Azores with its diaspora in the United States and Canada, namely between the Azores and Boston, New York, and Oakland (United States), and Toronto (Canada). SATA Airlines has disclosed that its operations in North America have been profitable, topping its most profitable destinations.
United Airlines is experiencing unprecedented demand for international travel this summer, with a significant increase of over 25% compared to 2022. The airline is operating flights to 37 cities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, reflecting its commitment to serving global travelers.
As the only American airline connecting the Azores to the New York metropolitan area, United Airlines is pleased to offer its customers in the Azores a direct service to the United States of America. Moreover, the extensive route network from United’s hub in New York/Newark provides convenient nonstop connections to 60 destinations in the Americas.
Other carriers offering a connection between North America and Portugal’s mainland, include American Airlines, Air Canada, Iberia, Lufthansa, Azores Airlines, and TAP Air Portugal with departures from Boston, Chicago, Miami, Newark, NYC, San Francisco, Montreal, and Toronto with destinations to Lisbon and Porto.
PAJ/Staff
The Azores (population 250,000) is a region of Portugal composed of nine islands. The archipelago discovered by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, became an Autonomous Region of Portugal in 1976. The government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores includes the Legislative Assembly, composed of 57 elected deputies, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term; the Regional Government and Presidency, with parliamentary legitimacy, composed of a President, a Vice-President and seven Regional Secretaries responsible for the Regional Government executive operations. The Autonomous Region of the Azores is represented in the Council of Ministers of the Central Government by a representative appointed by the President of Portugal. According to the latest US census over 1.3 million individuals of Portuguese descent live in the United States, the majority with roots in the Azores. It is estimated that over 20,000 US citizens live in Portugal.
