The Regional Statistics Service (SREA) shows that in February, the Azores saw over 114,000 passengers disembark at the archipelagos’ airports, a 9.9 percent rise over the same month last year. With the exception of the smallest Azores’ island, Corvo, which saw a decrease of 10.2 percent, all other islands in the archipelago registered a higher number of passengers disembarking.

After facing a decrease of 0.1 percent in January 2024 in regards to the number of disembarked passengers, following an increase in that number for 33 months in a row, the Azores got back on track. As published on the SREA website referring to the movement of air passengers, “In February 2024, 114,338 passengers disembarked at Azores airports, registering a positive variation of 9.9 percent compared to the same month of the previous year”.

The biggest growth was experienced by Santa Maria Island, with an increase of 20.4 percent. In second place was Faial with 12 percent, followed by Terceira Island with 11.9 percent and lastly São Miguel with 9.1 percent. The islands of Flores, São Jorge and Graciosa also experienced an increase although less remarkable.

49,020 landings occurred on inter-island flights, 11.6 percent more than on flights from the mainland and Madeira during the same period last year, and 55,715 landings occurred on flights from the mainland, 5.2 percent more than in the same period in 2023. When compared to February 2023 the number of passengers coming on international planes saw the major rise – a growth of 34.5 percent.