The Regional Secretary for Tourism and Transport stated in Lagoa that the new image of the Azores Rally, now designated as "Azores Airlines Rallye" marks the beginning of new era for the competition as well as for Grupo SATA, the main sponsor this stage of the European Rally Championship.
 
"SATA Rallye Açores, which completed 50 years last year, marks the beginning of a new era," said Vítor Fraga. The government official spoke Thursday at the presentation of the new image of the rally, which "will continue to bear the Grupo SATA brand" and the Azores brand.
 
The Regional Secretary stressed that this represents a turning point of SATA itself, followed by a change of paradigm in regional tourism, a key sector for the Region. Its relevance has been growing as evidenced by the success indicators in the recent past, being the result of efforts of "public and private entities."
 
Vítor Fraga considered that the current situation of tourism "is a new reality for all," stressing that the SATA Group had to face a new model of accessibility "which allowed the company to demonstrate that, day after day, it can permanently overcome all challenges it faces.”
 
"It is a new era where SATA has been able to contradict what had been announced by the prophets of doom on a daily basis, being able to overcome all the challenges it faced," said the Regional Government. In this regard, he stressed that "skills of all those of who give the best of themselves for the benefit of the company," noting that when they do so, "they do it for the benefit of the Region."
 
In his speech, Vítor Fraga reaffirmed the Government's commitment towards SATA, emphasising that the Government," as the representative of all shareholders of our air company, the Azorean people," will continue to be on side of airliners to face any challenge.
 
"Contrary to what some say, and I have always countered them, the competition demonstrates what we can do and the ability to overcome and win challenges," said the Regional Secretary.
 
"This is what happened with Grupo SATA in the recent past with the emergence of a new reality and a new highly competitive ecosystem, demonstrating its ability to continue serving the Azores and the Azoreans," said the government official.
 
Vítor Fraga also expressed his belief that this year's edition of "Azores Airlines Rallye" will be, once again, "the best edition ever" and that the figures in terms of projection will be exceeded once again," as it has been happening year after year."
 
The Regional Secretary wished the success of the competition as well as of Azores Airlines" that will soon be flying in the skies of the world, taking the Azores to the world and bringing the world to the Azores."