ANNUAL REPORT ‘12
BUSINESS REVIEW
54
7.2.1.1.5_Madeira airports
Madeira has been seriously affected by natural disas-
ters in recent years, and when added to the current
economic crisis, there has been a sharp drop in traffic
to levels of the previous decade.
The two airports, Madeira and Porto Santo, handled
about 2.3 million passengers, a year-on-year decline
of 4.6% and 6.1%, respectively, in aircraft movements.
Madeira airport accounted for 95% of the decrease.
Available seats also declined by 3.1%, while the average
load factor was 1 p.p. lower at 76.5%.
Domestic traffic (47% of the total) contracted by
7.6%, much greater than the 1.8% drop in international
traffic, a clear reflection of the effects of the economic
crisis in the region and the country. International mar-
kets, notably France, Spain, Germany and Switzerland
performed well, in contrast to the domestic and United
Kingdom markets, where the sharpest falls were
recorded.
Charter (non-regular) flight services also suffered
(3 thousand fewer passengers), but not as badly as the
traditional segment.
When considered from the point of view of airline
Because of the preponderance of domestic traffic at
Azores airports – Ponta Delgada (João Paulo II), Santa
Maria, Horta and Flores – there was a steep decline
of 5.9% in the volume of passengers, affecting all traffic
segments.
Aircraft movements declined (-5.7%) as did available
seats (-4.6%) and together with the drop in demand,
the load factor also dropped (-2.5 p.p.).
Portugal, which is the main market with 83.1% of the
Azores traffic, fell 4.1%, and the SATA Group, whose
airlines transport approximately 86% of the passengers
at Azores airports, had 23 thousand fewer passengers.
Eight of the 10 best performing routes were operated
by the SATA Group.
Despite the unfavourable economic environment in
Portugal, ANA, S.A. continues to invest in the quality of
its airports, which help generate demand and boost
the regions where they are located. Evidence of this
strategy is the fact that Ponta Delgada airport was
ranked as 2
nd
best airport in Europe for quality of
service, in the ACI-ASQ Survey.
In addition to its participation in international events
aimed at attracting more traffic, a number of other
initiatives were undertaken in 2012 by Azores airports
and by the resident airline, namely:
• The inauguration of three new regular routes, as
shown in the table below;
• The opening of regular public transportation ser-
vices to Ponta Delgada.
Brussels
TUI Airlines Belgium (Jetairfly)
4,743
Munich, Franz Joseph Strauss
Sata International - Serv. Transp. Aéreos, S.A.
4,406
Copenhagen
Sata International - Serv. Transp. Aéreos, S.A.
2,361
Airline
Destination
No. of Passengers
