The President of the Regional Government expressed his bewilderment at the fact that TAP has cancelled Faial and Pico routes, defending that the reasons leading to such decision should be fully clarified by the national airline.

"In the case of the Azores, TAP does not operate any public service route at the present moment," Vasco Cordeiro stressed, reminding that this is one of the obligations imposed on the private entity that will eventually acquire the company.

For this reason, Vasco Cordeiro reiterated the need for further clarification on this issue, point out that, a few months away from being privatised, TAP is not complying with the obligations that will be imposed on the future owners of the national airline.

The President of the Government spoke at the ceremony that marked the beginning of the celebrations of the 180th anniversary of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada, which coincided with the day when the new accessibility model entered into force in the Azores.

"This is a milestone in the history of air accessibility to the Region that will greatly contribute to the confirmation of an upward trend in the regional tourism sector; the latter is evidenced by the figures that were recently released," the President of the Government stressed, adding that, with this new model, the upward trend can strengthen its "consistency and sustainability."

In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro recalled that the definition of this new model of air accessibility to the Region started on August 11, 2011 when the Government of the Azores took the initiative to propose to the National Government the improvement of air accessibility to the Azores.

After three and a half years of hard work, we were to reach a "good solution" as regards the protection of residents and students, which resulted from a "fruitful and effective" cooperation between the National and Regional Governments, said Vasco Cordeiro.

"We have reached a new level with opportunities that should be seized," Vasco Cordeiro defended, stressing the importance of this new model to the Azores. In this context, the President of the Government pointed out the need to "ensure that it will be fully implemented in order to get the most benefits to the Azores."

For the President of the Government, this new model of public service obligations "will require a great deal of effort from everyone, starting by public entities." In this regard, the government official pointed out the relevance of conducting a reflection on the model for the promotion of tourism in the Azores in partnership with private entities and business association, since each island has a different reality.

Moreover, Vasco Cordeiro defended the need to promote "a culture of hospitality that will clearly demonstrate to the entire society the advantages of tourism in our economy as well as in the generation of wealth and the creation of employment."
 
"This is a time of hope, work and lots of hard work," the President of the Government emphasised, conveying his confidence in the capacity of the Azorean people to overcome another challenge.
As regards to SATA, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the new model also brings "increased challenges" to the regional airline. However, he assured that the Government of the Azores will be on side of SATA to "ensure that this model is beneficial to everyone, because only then it will fulfil its purpose."