Review: SATA Air Acores from the Azores Islands
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We flew with SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines. These small airlines bring travellers to the beautiful Azores islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Read our review to discover why we recommend these Airlines.
Covered in the Article
SATA Air Acores
SATA Air Açores is a small airline from Portugal. It is based in Ponta Delgada which is the capital of Azores islands. This airline was founded in 1941 to fulfil the need to transport cargo and passengers between the Azores islands. The airline has only 6 aircraft and destinations only in the Azores and a destination in Funchal, Madeira.
Azores Airlines
SATA Air Açores also maintains a subsidiary for mid- and long-haul flights called Azores Airlines. This company was known as SATA International but it changed its name to Azores Airlines, a more suitable name for an international carrier. While SATA Air Acores maintains only domestic flights within the Azores, Azores Airlines has many international destinations.
Azores Airlines has 6 Airbus A320 series aircraft in the fleet. The airline flies mainly to the mainland of Portugal and also to Canada and the United States. Azores Airlines plays a big role in carrying thousands of travellers to the Azores, especially during the summer season. The airline offers also stopover journeys for Canadian and American travellers wishing to stop in the Azores on their way to Europe.
These two airlines, SATA Air Acores and Azores Airlines together form the SATA Group.
Our Flights with SATA Group
From Ponta Delgada to Terceira
In February 2020, we flew from Ponta Delgada to Terceira with SATA Air Acores. We had planned one week's holiday in the Azores and decided to visit two Azores islands in a single journey. The flight from Ponta Delgada to Terceira was a direct leg lasting only 20 minutes. It was operated with a turboprop, Dash 8-Q400. The same aircraft continued immediately from Terceira to Flores.
The boarding went smoothly with passengers getting into the plane using the front and rear doors. The flight departed from Ponta Delgada on time. The safety announcement before the take-off was clear and the crew acted professionally.
There were no complimentary services onboard. It was not even possible to buy anything as the flight was so short. Flight attendants sat for almost the whole duration of the short flight. The cabin was clean and comfortable but it didn't have any entertainment.
From Terceira to Lisbon
A few days later, we flew from Terceira to Lisbon with Azores Airlines. The flight was operated with an Airbus A320. From the terminal, we had a bus ride to the plane and it departed on time.
The aircraft was old but in good condition. Also, the seats were seemingly old but they felt comfortable. Azores Airlines has a few newer planes but we were not lucky enough to fly with them this time.
The cabin in economy class was spacious enough even for tall passengers. There were shared LCD screens but their image quality was really poor which is comparable to that of old VHS tape. Also, airline magazines were available in seat pockets.
Rating
Friendliness and Behaviour of the Crew
On both flights, the crew acted professionally. We felt they offered us friendly customer service.
Cabins
Cabins of both aircraft were old but in good condition. There was enough leg space in the economy class. No business class was available on either of the flights.
Onboard Services
On the inter-island flight, there was not any kind of onboard service: Neither free nor paid. The short duration of the flight explained this.
On the flight from Terceira to Lisbon, Azores Airlines served ham and cheese sandwiches with really fresh and tasty juice. Also coke and coffee were available. It is rare moment anymore to get any complimentary service onboard so having a sandwich with a drink is much better than many other airlines can do.
Overall Rating
SATA Air Açores and its sub-carrier Azores Airlines are not low-cost airlines. Despite this, they still maintain a good service level having a complimentary service onboard and checked luggage included in the ticket prices. In addition, tickets are affordable so both airlines are good choices for Azores vacationers.
The fleet is old but the airlines have kept them in good condition. We felt that flying with SATA Group was a good choice even though there are a few great competitors.
Common Questions
- Are Azores Airlines and SATA Air Acores reliable?
- Based on our own experiences, they are very reliable.
- Does Azores Airlines have complimentary onboard meals?
- Yes, snacks and drinks are served free of charge on domestic routes. On other routes, a warm meal is included.
- Is Azores Airlines safe?
- The airline has a good safety record. Of course, no one can ever guarantee 100% safety.
- Does Azore Airlines offer stopover trips?
- Yes, Azores Airlines has stopover deals via Azores.
- Is there onboard entertainment on Azores Airlines' flights?
- Airbus A321LRneo have chargeable Wi-Fi. Airbus 321neo have entertainment via an app that must be downloaded before the flight.
Bottom Line
The Azores is a truly beautiful destination which we would like to revisit in the future. A few airlines are flying from Europe and America to the Azores but taking a flight from Azores Airlines is an excellent choice. The airline offers flights to and out of the Azores at a reasonable price.
To fly between the Azores Islands, there are many carriers to choose from. SATA Air Açores flies daily to many routes between the islands. According to our experience, SATA Air Açores operates flights professionally and safely. Certainly, we would fly with them again.
Have you been to Azores? How did you get there? Comment below!
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