Azores reports decline in maritime passengers and air connectivity

The Azores region is experiencing a decline in passenger movement across both maritime and air sectors. In August, maritime passenger arrivals for inter-island travel fell by 5.4% compared to the previous year, totaling 89,831 passengers. This follows a downward trend in maritime travel observed since July 2025. For the first eight months of the year, total maritime arrivals reached 384,080, a 5% decrease from the same period in 2024.

Individual island data shows mixed results. Pico and Faial saw decreases of 5.6% and 5.4% respectively, while São Jorge dropped by 4.4%. The islands of Flores and Corvo remained stable. Graciosa was the only island to record an increase, with a 1.7% rise in August.

Simultaneously, the region is facing challenges in air connectivity following the departure of Ryanair. The Socialist Party (PS) in the Azores has formally questioned the Regional Government regarding the economic impact of this exit. Local representatives noted that since April, the region has lost over 100,000 airport passengers and recorded a significant drop in tourist accommodation stays, raising concerns about economic retraction and the effectiveness of regional strategies to recover air routes and support affected businesses.