Secretary Eduardo Jesus is criticized in the article for focusing more on self-promotion than on solving concrete problems in Madeira's tourism sector. The article points out that when Madeira Airport becomes inoperational due to winds — something natural and recurring in the region — planes are diverted to Porto Santo, which serves as the only direct alternative runway in the Region.
However, the article warns that upon arriving at Porto Santo, passengers face an inability to be evacuated, turning a technical solution into a logistical nightmare. The absence of a fast, dedicated maritime connection between Calheta do Porto Santo and Caniçal is described as an "incomprehensible stubbornness" and not merely a planning oversight.
The article presents data on the maritime route: the traditional Funchal-Porto Santo connection via Lobo Marinho covers approximately 43 nautical miles and takes 2h30, while the distance between Calheta and Caniçal is only 23 to 25 nautical miles. A catamaran or fast-ferry traveling at 28-35 knots could cover that distance in 45 to 55 minutes, enabling diverted passengers to reach Madeira Island in under an hour.
The article also warns that airlines face brutal costs from compensation claims, emergency accommodations, and crew rotations, with EasyJet already cutting routes to Madeira. The reputational and financial cost to the destination is described as substantial, and the article argues that only when economic damage becomes unsustainable will official entities reconsider the sea as a solution.
