It was around 2:50 pm when the Azores Airlines Airbus A321 LR approached for landing at João Paulo II Airport, in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, in the Azores. Azores Airlines new route was officially launched.
Upon arrival in Ponta Delgada, a welcoming delegation, among which was the Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, Berta Cabral; the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SATA Holding, Teresa Gonçalves; the Commercial Director for Commercial Aviation at ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, Nuno Costa, among other distinguished guests welcomed the passengers disembarking. During the trip and when disembarking at João Paulo II Airport, passengers were surprised with souvenirs and courtesies in a joint welcoming action lead by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, Visit Azores and Azores Airlines.
The direct connection between Bilbao and Ponta Delgada will now take place every Saturday, departing from Ponta Delgada at 8:25 am and returning to the Azores Archipelago at 3:20 pm. The city of Bilbao is Azores Airlines' new bet in Spain. This connection completes the network of other destinations that the airline was already operating during the summer months, namely the connection to Barcelona, which remains, with the offer of three weekly flights.
Bilbao is an important urban center that has gained visibility both as a tourist attraction and as a relevant outbound market. It is a point of confluence for air traffic, which explains the interest of this operation for the airline, without neglecting the importance it assumes for the Azores Archipelago, which therefore sees added a direct connection to the European continent.
This air operation runs from July 1st to September 30th. It will be operated in Airbus A321 Neo or in Airbus A321 LR, in both cases offering two classes of service (Comfort Class and Economy Class).
The flight has an average time of two hours and fifty minutes. Reservations can be made at any point of sale of the airline, as well as through travel agencies.