SATA gets eight bids of interest for Azores Airlines sale

SATA has received eight expressions of interest in the privatization of Azores Airlines, the carrier that links the Azores with mainland Portugal and operates international routes, in a process that matters because the sale is tied to commitments made under the group’s EU-approved state aid restructuring plan.

In a statement, SATA said the interested parties had until September 6 to submit compliance, financial capacity and formal interest documents. The company will now review the paperwork to check whether applicants meet the tender requirements. Those that qualify will be invited to submit non-binding offers by September 21, before binding bids and final negotiations.

The new process aims to sell at least 75% of Azores Airlines. After several failed attempts, the regional government chose a private negotiation format rather than an international public tender, while keeping the process open to domestic and foreign investors.

The disposal of the airline was part of the restructuring plan approved by the European Commission in June 2022 in connection with state aid granted to the SATA group. SATA received a total of €453.25 million, and the privatization, which should have been completed in 2025, was extended by Brussels until the end of this year.

In the first half of 2026, Azores Airlines posted a net loss of €37.1 million, €3.9 million less than a year earlier. Operating revenue fell 1% to €134.4 million, while operating costs reached €142 million. The airline carried about 701,000 passengers, down 7.7%, and operated 5,037 flights, down 8.1%.

Originally published at Eco.pt