Budget flights lead to tourism boom in the Azores
The Azores is claiming to have enjoyed a tourism boom following the launch of Ryanair’s new weekly service to Ponta Delgada in Sao Miguel Island in the spring.
Hotels saw a 42.3% year on year rise in room occupancy by British tourists from April to July following the launch of the new flights from Stansted.
Ponta Delgada airport, the main international airport for the archipelago, also reported a 33.6% increase in passenger numbers in April compared to last year.
Originally scheduled to operate only until October, the new Ryanair service which departs every Saturday afternoon, has now been extended until at least March 2016.
SATA International continues to offer a direct weekly service from London Gatwick to Ponta Delgada between April and October, and daily internal flights between all nine of the islands throughout the year.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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