New frequencies on liberalised routes between the Azores and Mainland
Capacity increased with 16 weekly flights, totaling around 350 additional flights over the season
Azores Airlines will reinforce its domestic operations during the IATA Winter 2026/2027 season with the introduction of an additional 16 weekly flights between Mainland Portugal and the Azores. This represents an increase of eight weekly frequencies compared to the same period last year.
The reinforcement is guided by the introduction of new frequencies on liberalized routes, the maintenance of daily operations, optimized schedules and a broader range of departure times in the morning, afternoon and evening, providing greater flexibility and convenience for passengers.
This increase in capacity will cover the following routes: Lisbon <> Ponta Delgada (three additional weekly frequencies), Lisbon <> Terceira (two), Porto <> Ponta Delgada (two) and Porto <> Terceira (one). In total, the airline will offer more than one hundred weekly flights between Mainland Portugal and the Azores, with departures from Lisbon, Porto and Faro, serving São Miguel and Terceira (liberalized routes), as well as Lisbon routes to Faial and Pico under Public Service Obligations.
This reinforcement is part of a broader effort to adjust operations to market demand. The reconfiguration results from the redistribution of capacity, considering the planned suspension of certain European routes during the winter period, namely Paris, Barcelona and Frankfurt. Through this approach, Azores Airlines aims to enhance mobility options for the Region in its connections with Mainland Portugal.
In addition to domestic operations, Azores Airlines will continue to operate weekly connections between the Azores and Madeira during the winter, including the Terceira / Funchal route, launched on 1 June, which will be maintained year-round. Alongside increased capacity, flight schedules on certain routes have also been adjusted to offer more convenient and attractive options for passengers.
“We believe that strengthening our domestic operations represents an important step in consolidating our strategy and reflects the spirit of the Azores Mission: to serve the archipelago, ensure closer connection to the regional market, and reinforce the relevance of Azores Airlines within the context of air mobility in the Azores, while striving to do so in the most convenient way for our passengers,” said Tiago Santos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azores Airlines.
The IATA Winter 2026/2027 schedule is now available in reservation systems, allowing passengers and travel agents to plan their trips in advance. Overall, Azores Airlines will operate 170 weekly flights across 15 routes during this period, while maintaining its connections to North America and to Praia, in Cape Verde.