BE/Azores urged the Regional Government to stop the privatisation process of SATA Handling, defending the possibility of renegotiating restructuring with the European Commission, as the region “does not need more private monopolies”.
© Global
03/11/2026
by
Lusa
O BE/Azores today urged the Regional Government to stop the privatisation process of SATA Handling, arguing that it is possible to renegotiate restructuring with the European Commission, as the region “does not need more private monopolies”.
“The [Regional] Government must listen to the workers and must act. It must stop this process and renegotiate the restructuring plan with the European Commission. This is possible”, said BE deputy in the Assembly of the Azores, António Lima, after a meeting in Ponta Delgada with SATA Handling workers, who are on strike against the privatization of the company.
The also leader of the Block in the Azores revealed that the European Commission, in response to MEPs Catherine Martins, admitted the possibility of reviewing the restructuring of the Azorean aviation group which provides for the divestment of SATA Handling.
“The European Commission itself, in response to MEP Catarina Martins, states that it is possible for the Member State, Portugal, to request a revision of the restructuring plan. That can be done. Just want it. The [Regional] Government does not want, but has to listen to the workers ", reinforced António Lima.
In its reply, consulted by Lusa, the European Commission states that it is possible to request changes to the SATA restructuring plan and stresses that “if the measures proposed to limit distortions of competition are more limited, the amount of aid should be reduced”.
“A Member State may request changes to the restructuring plan, but the revised plan should also demonstrate a return to viability within a reasonable period and, if the restructuring costs increase, the own contribution should also increase,” the European Commission states, in its letter dated 26 August.
The deputy of BE/Azores praised the “large union” of workers and the “adherence above 90%” in the 14-day partial strike, and highlighted the importance of SATA Handling, which has 640 employees and provides service to all companies flying to the archipelago.
“SATA Handling is the company that provides service to aircraft in all islands of the Azores. Privatizing this company 100%, which is what is planned and what the government is doing, is delivering this company to a private company,” he warned.
António Lima argued that privatisation is “damaged” because it may undermine jobs and leave SATA “totally dependent on a private company with the monopoly of the operation at all airports”.
“We do not need more private monopolies in the Azores. We have enough”, reinforced.
He also promised that BE would make proposals during the discussion of the Plan and Budget for 2027 to “force the Regional Government to renegotiate the privatisation process”.
On October 21, the SATA group announced that it received six non-binding proposals in the context of the privatisation process of 100% of the handling’s capital.
On October 9, the Aviation Workers and Airports Union and the National Civil Aviation Workers Union issued a strike notice to operate between October 21 and November 3, against the intention of the Government of the Azores to sell all the assistance on a scale.
In June 2022, the European Commission approved Portuguese State aid to support the restructuring of SATA of EUR 453.25 million in state loans and guarantees, providing measures such as a reorganization of the structure and the divestment of a control stake (51%).