The CCIAH emphasised that the strike notice is a deeply irresponsible decision that could seriously harm the company and region at this critical time.
In a letter sent on Monday, 9 March, to SATA’s management and Azores Government departments, SITAVA and SINTAC criticised the handling of privatisation and announced an overtime strike from 24 March.
The unions called a strike on all overtime and rest days at SATA Air Azores, starting at midnight on 24 March 2026 and lasting indefinitely.
CCIAH warns that, as the SATA group undergoes major changes, any strike that disrupts operations or shakes confidence in regional air transport would harm the interests of the company, its workers, and the Azores.
The CCIAH points out that air transport is a “vital infrastructure” for territorial cohesion, the mobility of the Azoreans, and the functioning of the regional economy. It warns that any significant disruption to air operations will have a direct impact on tourism, business activity, and the daily lives of the populations of the nine islands.
Given these potential consequences, CCIAH views the union’s action as a concerning lack of responsibility at a highly sensitive time for the company.
CCIAH said operational instability in regional air transport deserves strong criticism.
The CCIAH notes that separating and privatising ground handling services is in line with regional commitments to European institutions and with the SATA group restructuring requirements. CCIAH repeated that the successful privatisation of SATA International – Azores Airlines is essential for regional public finances and Azorean mobility.
On 19 February, the coordinator of the SATA Air Azores Workers’ Commission expressed “deep concern” about the 100% privatisation of handling, warning that it was a “structural risk” with implications for workers and “all Azoreans”.
On the same day, before the Regional Assembly’s Economy Committee, SATA President Tiago Santos stated that the privatisation is a commitment by SATA and the governments to the European Commission, enabling State aid that supported the SATA group in 2022.
On 28 January, SATA’s management informed employees that it plans to formalise the separation of handling services in March by creating a new company and beginning the privatisation process for that service.
In June 2022, the European Commission approved Portuguese state aid in the amount of €453.25 million in loans and state guarantees to support the airline’s restructuring, including measures such as restructuring and the divestment of a controlling stake (51%).