Minister recalls that it is possible to go from Bragança to the Algarve in 2h35. How?

O minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, recalled through a shared publication on social networks that it is possible to travel from Bragança to the Algarve in 2:35, through an air link. 

“From Bragança to Algarve in just 2h35I'm sorry. An air link that approaches regions, shortens distances and facilitates the life of those who need to travel”, can be read in the publication of the ruler. 

This is the route taken by Sevenair what do you do stops in Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Cascais and Portimão. 

The minister reveals that the route linking the north to the south of the country transported, in 2023, about 13,000 passengers, with an occupancy rate close to 75%. 

Currently, there are flights from Monday to Saturday, with more offer between April and October and “when demand actually increases”, explained Pinto Luz: 

Air career was interrupted last year

The Trás-os-Montes/Algarve career was interrupted by restrictions imposed by the municipal company Cascais Dinámica, due to the lack of payment of an alleged debt of the company Sevenair, responsible for the connection.

In question was a divergence about a supposed debt of ‘handling’ fees, the services provided with the grounded plane, amounting to EUR 107 thousand plus VAT (or a debt of EUR 132,471,95, according to the municipality) that Dynamic Cascais required, but that the carrier considered ‘not to be due’.

The Lusa agency, Carlos Amaro, of the airline administration, confirmed that they paid for the rescue of the plane, which was held at Tires airfield.

The company reported that it paid the amount of more than 130 thousand euros that was requested. The same source reiterated, however, that they will proceed to justice with the case because they consider that, according to the law in force, the debt was unduly collected.

In a statement, Sevenair stated that it questioned the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) about the legality of the assistance fee, for operating in a “self-assistance scheme” with a company held by it, but the regulatory authority concluded that the fee “is due by groundhandling providers or air carriers licensed for self-assistance on a scale”.

The company responsible for the regional public air link has meanwhile agreed to pay the outstanding fees at the Cascais Municipal Aerodrome when the State repays outstanding amounts related to the service, “to return to the operation”.

“Sevenair prefers to exhaust the legal means to speak at the end. However, as the speed of justice does not follow and reality, we accept to pay what we are required, as soon as the State repays us what it owes us, to return to the operation ", had already stated during this interruption the administration of the carrier in a statement to which Lusa had access.