“The Terceira–Madeira operation is scheduled to begin on 7 May, with one weekly flight on Thursdays, increasing to two weekly flights between June and September, the period of highest demand,” the Azorean airline revealed in a statement.

The new route, presented at BTL – Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market in Lisbon, results from the update of public service obligations (PSO), which now include this connection in the flight offer between the two archipelagos.

Departing from Terceira

According to Azores Airlines, flights will depart from Terceira Island on Thursdays, returning the following day, and, during peak season, an additional flight will be added on Mondays, also returning the following day.

Until now, connections between the two archipelagos have been limited to Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, and Funchal, on Madeira.

Increasing flights

With this new connection, the Azorean airline increases the number of weekly flights between the two autonomous regions to 12 during the summer season.

The Government of the Republic recently approved the "reprogramming of charges" for public service obligations in air transport between the Azores and the mainland, and between the Azores and Madeira, for which the SATA/TAP consortium was the only bidder.

The amount in question is €62.5 million, for the period between 2026 and 2031, covering routes between Lisbon and the islands of Faial, Santa Maria and Pico, and routes connecting Madeira to São Miguel and Terceira.

The government has increased public air service connections between the Azores and the mainland, and between the Azores and Madeira, by €17.5 million, following the previous tender, which failed to attract any bids, as revealed on 30 December 2024.