Azores tourism declines following Ryanair departure

The Azores region is experiencing a significant downturn in tourism following the departure of Ryanair, which ceased operations in the archipelago in late March. According to data from the Regional Service of Statistics of the Azores (SREA), the region recorded a decrease of at least 103,766 passengers (7.9%) between April and August compared to the same period in 2025.

This decline in air travel has directly impacted the hospitality sector. Between April and July, the number of overnight stays in hotels, local accommodations, and rural tourism fell by approximately 71,627, representing a 3.5% year-on-year decrease. Specifically, there was a notable drop of 62,000 stays from Portuguese residents.

Maritime travel is also seeing a decline. In August, inter-island passenger numbers at regional ports dropped by 5.5% compared to the previous year. While 16 airlines provided connections during the summer, only TAP and Azores Airlines currently maintain flights between the archipelago and mainland Portugal.