The President of the Government of the Azores presented in Ponta Delgada the new Public Service Obligations (PSO) for inter-island air transport, which provides a reduction in prices up to 25 percent and the introduction of a maximum price of 120 Euros for inter-island flights.

"The work that is being presented allows a reduction in the price of fares, ranging from eight to 25 percent. This stipulates the maximum price of inter-island flights at 120 Euros," said Vasco Cordeiro, who spoke at the public presentation of Public Service Obligations. The President of the Government was accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport, Vítor Fraga.

Vasco Cordeiro stressed that this price corresponds to the goals defined for these amendments to Public Service Obligations. It also allows to counterbalance the effort undertaken by the Region with the financial compensations; the latter represent a financial effort of 135 million Euros over the next five years.

These new rules go far beyond the mere organization of an air transport service. According to the President of the Government, they are an "effective measure to strengthen the territorial cohesion to the Azores" since they create better conditions for the accessibility to and from each island.

After pointing out that the new Public Service Obligations for flights between the nine islands corresponds to the fulfilment of a political commitment, Vasco Cordeiro stated that the new rules follow the amendments introduced to the air transport model for external connections in order to seize and enhance their potential in the archipelago.

In turn, the Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport considered that the model presented today, which does not provide any reduction in the frequency of inter-island flights, introduces a new concept of maximum ticket price; it includes the fare price, airport fees and ticketing fees.

The new model will provide fares with a maximum price set at 120 Euros, 100 Euros, 90 Euros and 60 Euros, which, in fact, represent a reduction in current prices between 8 and 25 percent, depending on the route. There will be a price reduction in all routes, stressed Vítor Fraga.

The PSO for regular inter-island transport in the archipelago also include special fares for seniors, children and youngsters, tourists, students, residents and large families as well as promotional campaigns.

In order to respond to situations of increased demand, Vítor Fraga revealed that they will also provide the operation of additional flights, whenever there are waiting lists exceeding five percent of the weekly capacity and there no flights within the next 48 hours.

The new model also provides additional flights to meet the extra demand created by religious festivities and cultural and sports events in the archipelago, as long as there is an occupancy rate not less than 70 percent.
 
"Under these PSO, any passenger from any island will have the possibility to catch a flight to a destination outside the archipelago on the same day," stressed Vítor Fraga.