The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated today that the Government of the Azores welcomes with satisfaction the intention of EasyJet to fly to the Region.

Speaking to journalists after receiving the airline representatives, Vítor Fraga recalled that the Government of the Azores had two very clear goal when presented the proposal for the revision of Public Service Obligations: on the one hand, protect residents and, on the other hand, create the condition for the entry of new operators into the market, as they can generate added value to the Region."

"This whole process is ongoing, now with the National Government, which has the power to streamline the timing to implement the new model in the beginning of the 2015 IATA summer, that is, by the end of March 2015," says Vítor Fraga.

The Regional Secretary also stressed that the information he has indicates that "things will proceed as normal and that will everything will be ready for the implementation of the new model by the beginning of next year's IATA summer.

According to Vítor Fraga, there is some degree of urgency in the notification of the new model to the European Commission by the National Government and its subsequent approval by the Council of Ministers. After these procedures, "air companies will be able to organise themselves and develop their operation plan within the distribution networks so that they can fulfil their duty, which is to attract new markets and transport more tourists to the Region."