SATA Air Açores is celebrating the 78th anniversary of its commercial flights, which date back to the early days of the 'Sociedade Açoreana de Transportes Aéreos, Lda.'
To mark the occasion, the airline has revived a historic tradition by offering sweets to all passengers on inter-island flights. Originally intended to relieve pressure in the ears during flight, this custom has become a memorable ritual for many passengers, who fondly recall the crew passing through the aircraft's aisles with a tray of sweets. SATA Air Açores repeats this gesture every year on its anniversary.
The first commercial flight of Sociedade Açoreana de Transportes Aéreos, Lda., took place on June 15, 1947, in a ceremony at the Santana airfield, which was the only aerodrome on the island of São Miguel at the time. Over three hundred guests attended the event. It marked the beginning of air traffic for passengers, cargo, and mail between the islands of São Miguel, Santa Maria, and Terceira at a time when the other islands in the archipelago did not yet have airport infrastructure.
Over the years, the company evolved to become the current SATA Air Açores, consolidating its mission to connect the Azorean islands by air. In 1977, around 30 years after initiating operations, the company celebrated the arrival of its one-millionth passenger — a milestone now reached in a single year. In 2024, SATA Air Açores operated 19,094 flights, carrying around one million passengers.
Throughout its history, the airline has received recognition both nationally and internationally. In 1987, it received the Silver Medal for Tourist Merit at the Portuguese Tourism Jubilee. In 1994, it was awarded the Medal of Honor by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in recognition of the quality of its flights and operational procedures.
As a member of both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), it won the bronze medal in the 'Best Regional Airline in Europe' category in 2011/12. In 2022, SATA Air Açores won the José Carlos Dâmaso Award, which recognizes companies that promote quality in the Azores. More recently, in 2024, the World Travel Awards once again honored it with the award for Europe's Leading Regional Airline.
SATA Air Açores is certified by IATA under the IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) program, consistently maintaining the maximum rating of 7/7 on the AirlineRatings portal. This portal annually assesses the safety and service parameters of airlines worldwide. Together with its sister company, Azores Airlines, SATA Air Açores was the first Portuguese airline to obtain IATA's Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certification, recognizing the implementation of good practices in the aviation sector and commitment to environmental sustainability.