By the end of 2021, the airline predicted the need for an occasional aircraft reinforcement to serve specific inter-island flights, not only to face the estimated growth in traffic but also to meet the demand for punctual support on some routes. To offer the best service possible, the airline is counting on receiving, by the middle of July, an extra Q400 Bombardier unit to reinforce the air operation. Due to reasons beyond the airline's control, related to delays in global supply chains, the delivery of the Bombardier Q400 unit, initially scheduled to be available in mid-May, was postponed to mid-July. In the meantime, an ATR-72-500, with 72 seats, will join the airline fleet to ensure the flight schedule and guarantee the air service's regularity.
During the transition, SATA Air Açores cabin crew members will join the air partner to assure that the inflight service will be delivered following the company standards.
SATA Air Açores has planned to transport around 345 thousand passengers this summer, a new record by a large margin, which corresponds to an increase of about 21% when compared to the pre-pandemic year of 2019. The airline is expecting to operate 432 inter-island flights per week, approximately 74 flights per day.