The Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIPD) has requested the Competition Authority to analyze the competitive conditions in air links between mainland Portugal and the Azores, where fares can exceed 500 euros during certain periods. The business association sent a formal communication to the AdC following an analysis it has been developing on the evolution of air fares.
According to the CCIPD, the data collected shows that on both Azores Airlines and TAP, the lowest fare classes are not regularly available, even when searches are made well in advance. The association found a concentration of supply at significantly higher fare levels, although it does not claim the existence of collusion between the two operators.
The CCIPD emphasizes that the current market structure, following Ryanair's exit from the Azores, combined with the existence of commercial cooperation between TAP and Azores Airlines through a code-share agreement, justifies a thorough analysis. The Competition Authority itself had previously identified, in an opinion issued in May 2026, risks that a closer alignment between the two operators could reduce competitive pressure and lead to higher prices.
As an example, the association notes that a journey between Praia, in Cape Verde, and Ponta Delgada, with approximately four hours of flight time, costs about 218 euros, while connections between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada, with approximately two hours, show round-trip values exceeding 500 euros. The CCIPD warns that prices on the Lisbon-Ponta Delgada routes are close to double the average values found for Lisbon-Funchal, where there is greater competition, and that the situation affects not only those who need to travel but also the archipelago's tourism competitiveness.
