SATA Air Acores Expands Regional Fleet with addition of a further ATP

Hatfield, United Kingdom - SATA Air Açores, the Azores Islands-based carrier, which celebrates its 60th anniversary of scheduled operations on June 15, has leased an additional ATP regional turboprop airliner from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft to facilitate further route expansion.

The aircraft (msn 2018) was delivered in early June and joins four other ATPs in SATA service. SATA has been an ATP customer for almost 17 years and of the fleet total of five ATPs, three are leased from Regional Aircraft.

SATA’s regional fleet expansion results from the award of a new route from Funchal in Madeira to the nearby island of Porto Santo, which is only 50 miles away. This will mark the first deployment of the ATP in SATA service away from the Azores Islands themselves.

SATA’s ATPs are worked very hard with utilisation of around 1500 hours a year and annual cycles of 2500 a year, reflecting the short sector lengths, which average only 30 minutes.

This high service level is important as SATA’s operations provide an air transport lifeline amongst its destinations for the local population, as well as a vital tourist link during the busy summer holiday months.

SATA is developing its sister airline SATA Internacional services into Funchal and the addition of this new regional route strengthens this development, allowing the airline to sell twin centre holiday destinations to both Madeira and the Azores.

Source: SATA Air Acores Expands Regional Fleet with addition of a further ATP