The low-cost airline cited “high airport fees” as the reason for ending air links to and from the autonomous region of the Azores and accused the Government of “inaction”.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 24th Congress of the National Association of Public Road Freight Transporters (ANTRAM) in Vilamoura, Algarve, Miguel Pinto Luz said that Ryanair's statements "were received with enormous surprise."

"Ryanair has accustomed us, over the years, to attitudes and statements outside the normal rules of operation between institutions. The Portuguese government will not respond in the same way," the minister stated.

“Dishonest”

The minister described some of Ryanair's statements as "dishonest" because they compare periods that "cannot be compared."

According to the minister, air navigation fees have been decreasing since 2023, placing Portugal among the most competitive countries in Europe.

"Just look at the evolution of fees in recent years, and some of the statements are even dishonest from that point of view, because they compare years that cannot be compared," he emphasised.

Miguel Pinto Luz also recalled that “both the Regional Government of the Azores and Turismo de Portugal have supported Ryanair in flying to Portugal and, in this case, to the Azores destination,” over the past few years.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure that the Autonomous Region of the Azores is not harmed. But we do not accept ultimatums, threats, or false allegations. We stand for the truth,” he concluded.

Ryanair announced on Thursday that it will cancel all flights to and from the Azores from March 29, 2026, justifying the decision with “high fees” and accusing the Portuguese government of “inaction,” following a 120% increase in air navigation fees and the introduction of a two-euro travel tax.