SATA Air Azores

SATA have just reduced their two weekly flights from London to PDL to one per week from June 2009 and will not be offering Winter 2009/10 flights. The situation occurred due to the excessive flight prices on average £280-£350 return and is so uncompetitive that flights are running half empty. You can fly to Asia or Canada for the same price. The service on board SATA I found to be very good and quite relaxed but not reflective of the price. With a bit of foresight and good marketing this could be a very successful route. There is currently no other competition except for a code share with TAP which offers the same expensive fare. What a great shame for everyone especially the islands which are beautiful but trapped with only one uncompetitive airline living in a bygone era of state control.

I used them when travelling between Madeira and Las Palmas/Gran Canaria. Plane was a BAe quite old and uncomfortable although they are currently renovating their fleet. Absolutely no food except water or juices in 1.5hrs and paying a considerable expensive price. Not value for money at all.

Manchester to Ponta Delgada Sao Miguel. Sadly the plane was less than one-fifth full. They deserve better. The crew were attentive very pleasant and very helpful with a never-ending supply of free drinks as well as an adequate meal. I would definitely travel with SATA again.

Manchester to Ponta Delgada via Gatwick. Crew friendly and onboard service was excellent. Newspapers meals and drinks all included in the price of £175 return. I had a nice Portuguese wine and was offered a second drink. On the return the chicken was a bit overcooked but other than that 2 enjoyable flights - something that is rare these days.

SATA My husband & I flew to the Acores return. The flight crews were helpful and pleasant and food was what you would expect on a flight. When winds did not allow our flight from Faial to Flores to depart we were put up in and excellent hotel where SATA paid for all meals and accommodation. Outstanding service!

I fly to San Miguel a minimum of two times a year. Overall I find the service good. However pricing of the fare is substantial given the distance 4.5 hour flight and summer rates averaging in access of $800. Winter rates are within the affordable range. If the Azorean government is serious about promoting tourism in the Azores it needs to aggressively address the monopolistic status it grants Azores Express. By having another airline share this lucrative route travelers will have selection of service and potentialy enjoy lower airfares. This could translate in increase tourism to the Azores.

Several years ago I made a very negative submission about this airline. I now travel monthly with them from London Gatwick direct to Ponta Delgada. The service is now good and a great improvement. The only negative is with reference to the price of tickets which are still outrageously high. Another curious experience is the use of Christmas music being played even in high summer? If you send an e-mail with reference to an enquiry they can take up to a month to reply in awful cut and paste English with little comment on the initial complaint or request - call them instead!

Recently flew Sata Internacional from Amsterdam tot Ponta Delegada and return and the experience was very good. On time clean and modern A320 aircraft and friendly staff. Free newspapers headsets hot meal and bar service. Inter island flights with SATA Air Azores were mostly slightly delayed and are basic with free seating and no inflight service whatsoever (except for the occasional local newspaper) but got us from A to B safely.

Me and my wife went on a trip from Lisbon to Ponta Delgada. Our experience was poor. For a 346 Euros (one-way) each person on a 2 hours flight a bad sandwich was served the flight attendants made a big effort on smiling and the planes are very old. The bad news is that they are the only airline that flies to S.Miguel.

Flew out of Toronto direct flight to Sao Miguel- three hours late. Gate change occurred due to late takeoff. When announcement was made for passengers to board there were no Sata personnel to board the passengers. Much confusion was evident. Onboard the cabin crew were miserable and rude to passengers. Little attempt was made to speak English to those passengers who did not speak Portuguese. The meal was not hot nor tasty best part of the meal was the dinner roll and the wine. Most likely will be the last time I fly Sata. There are other airlines who fly direct.