2009
PRESS kit
BRIEF PACK
Índice
Business Structure and Organization
A Brief History: Six Decades in Service to the Azores
SATA Air Açores
SATA Express and Azores Express
SATA Internacional
Engineering, Maintenance and Handling
Fleet
Route Grid
GRUPO SATA
Gabinete de Comunicação e Imagem
+ 351 296 209 748 | [email protected]
www.sata.pt
BUSINESS STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
Grupo SATA is an air transportation group whose headquarters are located in the city Ponta
Delgada, island of São Miguel, Azores. The origin of today’s SATA was the Sociedade de Estudos
Aéreos Açorianos, a company founded in 1941 with the goal of developing air links between the
island of São Miguel and the other eight islands of the archipelago, as well as the Portuguese
mainland. In late 2006, Grupo SATA was redesigned as a holding company to enable it to
respond to new business opportunities worldwide. SATA became a Limited Liability Corporation
SGPS, which allowed for better allocation of resources, greater management flexibility and
organizational transparency. The majority of its shares are still being publicly held.
LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATION SGPS
AIR TRANSPORTATION
AIRLINE ASSSITENCE
MAINTENANCE AND ENGENEERING
FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAM
AIR TRANSPORTATION
AERODROME MANAGEMENT
TOUR OPERATOR ( CANADA)
TOUR OPERATOR ( EUA )
A BRIEF HISTORY |
SIX DECADES IN SERVICE TO THE AZORES
In 1941 a group of business people - José Bensaúde, Augusto d’Athaide, Albano da Silva Oliveira,
António de Medeiros de Almeida (representing the firm of Bensaúde) and Augusto Rebelo Arruda pondered the possibility of creating air links between the nine islands of the Azores and mainland
Portugal. Six years later, the project became a reality when a Beechcraft airplane named “Açor”
took flight from the Aerodrome of Santana on the island of São Miguel with the new SATA colors.
With the success of the first flight, SATA’s founders kicked off a new era in which the islands of
the Azores, almost 1,000 nautical miles from the mainland, would finally be closer to the rest of
the world.
To understand the isolation and insular nature of the Azores is to understand the founding
principles of what would be Portugal’s first civil airline. With great vision, the founders sought to
serve the Azores and its people by bringing the modern world a little bit closer to them. Sixty years
later, that dream is still being fulfilled - SATA now flies to many destinations worldwide.
Grupo SATA is made up of five companies: two air carriers, two tour operators and airport
management company which manages five of the nine airports in the Azores. While each of the
five has different areas of focus, they work together in terms of handling, maintenance and
engineering. GRUPO SATA employs more than 1,200 professionals - from its corporate
headquarters to its Lisbon maintenance and operations hub, to its hubs in Ponta Delgada and
Funchal.
BRIEF HISTORY | timeline
1941 | SATA is born
Named Sociedade Açoreana De Estudos Aéreos Lda (Azorean Society of Air Studies), based in Ponta
Delgada on São Miguel
1947 | New commercial name and first aircraft
SATA takes on the commercial name of Sociedade Açoriana de Transportes Aéreos Lda., and starts
operations with a Beechcraft UC-45B Expeditor (CS-TAA), named Açor.
1958 | Helps volcano refugees
SATA comes to the aid of victims of the Capelinhos Vulcano on Faial, who are relocating to the
United States by transporting them to Santa Maria and then to the Terceira Air Base at Lajes. For
this effort, SATA partnered with Pan American Airways, who flew the refugees from Lajes to the
U.S.
1959| Purchase of TWA infrastructure on Santa Maria
With plans to expand its services, SATA acquires the Trans World Airways equipment at Santa
Maria Airport. It then merged its land services (workers and equipment) with Pan Am’s at the same
airport.
1963 | SATA takes delivery of its first DC-3
SATA’s first DC-3 is acquired from Aer Lingus and immediately starts service.
1968| First flight attendants
SATA's Azorean spirit of service takes off to the skies in 1968, as flights start featuring helpful and
friendly flight attendants.
1969 | Opening of Ponta Delgada airport
The «Aeroporto da Nordela», located in the city of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel island, is inaugurated
featuring an new 1.800 meter runway, which allows for operations of larger aircraft.
1971 | Faial Airport inaugurated
The «Aeroporto da Horta» in the town of Castelo Branco, island of Faial, is inaugurated by the
president of the Portuguese Republic; SATA service begins in 1972.
1973 | SATA reaches Flores
SATA begins service to the island of Flores, the westernmost island in Europe. Regular flights begin
in 1976.
1974 | SATA goes union
With Portugal’s 1974 revolution, all SATA workers become unionized.
1976 | SATA handles the Concorde
The most advanced aircraft in civil aviation, the Concorde, starts service between Paris and NYC via
Santa Maria. All ground services are provided by SATA.
1977 | SATA reached the 1 million mark
SATA welcomes its one millionth passenger aboard.
1981 | Graciosa
Airport opens.
1982 | Pico aerodrome inaugurated
With regular service to all islands, the first new regional airport is inaugurated in Pico Island.
1983 | São Jorge gets an aerodrome
A new airport is added in São Jorge, giving every island in the central group of islands its own
airfield and service.
1987 | SATA becomes SATA Air Açores
SATA changes it name to SATA Air Açores and wins a silver medal for service from Mérito Turístico.
1989 | The ATP reaches The Azores
SATA acquires its first BAe ATP, which will form the backbone of the inter-island fleet. Still in
service, it now connects the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries.
1990 | Change and expansion
SATA bids farewell to its Hawker Siddeley HS 748, after two decades of
service; joins the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the
European Regional Airlines Association (ERA); acquires the offices of Canadian Pacific Airlines in
Lisbon; two more ATPs join the fleet.
1994 | SATA Air Açores wins the Medal of Honor
The International Civil Aviation Organization awards a Medal of Honor to SATA Air Açores for its
excellence in service.
1995 | SATA continues to grow
SATA starts operating international charter flights with Boeing 737-200.
1998 | SATA receives Air Operator Certificate
SATA Internacional received its Air Operator Certificate that allows it to operate to international
routes from the Azores.
1999 | SATA opens new routes
SATA Internacional wins the bid to operate the public service routes of Ponta Delgada-Lisbon and
Porto-Funchal; starts service with B737s and A310.
2000 | Flights to North America
SATA starts operating regular flights to the United States and Canada, building a lasting bridge to
the Azorean communities in those countries.
2005 | SATA starts aerodrome management
Grupo SATA launches SATA Aerodomes to manage and maintain four of the nine regional airports
in the Azores.
2007 | SATA increases its presence in Madeira
Adds service between Funchal and Porto and starts scheduled service between the islands of
Madeira and Porto Santo.
Adds new equipment to the fleet: 1 BAe ATP; 1 Airbus A310; 1 Dornier DO228; and 3 Airbus A320s.
2009 | The fleet gets renewed
The first new Bombardier Q200 joins the fleet of SATA Air Açores; the
Dornier DO228 is retired; a new Airbus A320 is delivered. SATA now
operates Bombardier Q200, BAe ATP, Airbus A320 and Airbus A310 aircraft.
2010 | Route Expansion
BRIEF COMPANY DESCRIPTION
SATA AIR AÇORES
The company was founded in 1941. It started offering service in 1947 between the islands of São
Miguel and Santa Maria only, using a Beechcraft aircraft.
Today, SATA Air Azores offers service with a fleet of British Aerospace ATPs and Bombardier Q200s
aircraft.
Since 2007 SATA Air Azores has used two operational bases: João Paulo II Airport in the island of
Sao Miguel and Madeira Airport – Madeira Island. Some 60 odd years after its first flight, SATA Air
Azores now operates scheduled service between all the islands of the Azores. Each year the
company operates approximately 15,000 flights, carrying 450,000 passengers (200,000 more than
the current population of the Azores).
SATA EXPRESS AND AZORES EXPRESS
Because many Azoreans immigrated to the United States and Canada between 1950 and 1980,
creating large communities in the vicinity of Boston, USA, and Toronto, Canada, it seemed to
make sense to start offering air service to those two North American cities. Hence, in 1986, SATA
created two tour operators: SATA Express in Canada and Azores Express in the United States.
SATA INTERNACIONAL
SATA Internacional was created in 1998 to continue and develop route service to several
destinations that had been managed by SATA Air Açores since 1995.
The company’s first aircraft was a Boeing 737-300 that operated on
both national and international markets. Since then, SATA Internacional has expanded its route
system and today operates a fleet of Airbus A310s and Airbus A320s serving Lisbon, Porto,
Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Horta, Terceira and Santa Maria with daily service to Ponta Delgada,
Funchal and Lisbon. Beyond domestic service in Portugal, the company now links the Azores and
mainland Portugal to the United States and Canada and numerous other cities such as Paris,
London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Dublin, London, Stockholm and Madrid. One third of its business
derives from charter flights operated between popular destinations such as Europe, Cape Verde,
Bahia, Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Las Palmas. Charter flights allow seasonal flexibility based on
market trends.
SATA AERODROMOS
Founded in 2005, it runs four of the nine airport structures in the Azores Islands. It was bestowed
a legacy of know-how gained in over half a century of ground support operations.
SATA Aerodromos now runs the aerodrome of Pico, Graciosa, Corvo and São Jorge.
ENGINEERING, MAINTENANCE AND HANDLING
Beyond air transportation, Grupo SATA provides handling, maintenance and engineering services.
Maintenance and engineering focuses on the upkeep and maintenance of the SATA fleet. All
technicians are certified by the Portuguese National Institute of Civil Aviation and the Joint
Aviation Authority to the highest levels of international aviation. Facilities are certified by the
Joint Aviation Authority under JAR 145.
Grupo SATA provides full handling services (ramp and passenger service) at all the airports in the
Azores. This department will be fully autonomous and will function as an independent unit in the
near future.
FLEET |
Grupo SATA’s fleet is made up of British Aerospace ATPs, Bombardier Q200, Airbus A310 and
A320. In the first quarter of 2010, SATA will take delivery of state-of-the-art Q400 Next
Generation aircraft as well as additional aircraft from Airbus. This diverse fleet serves the short,
medium and long-haul needs of the airline. SATA makes an average of 21,000 flights annually to a
variety of destinations.
TECHNICAL DETAILS |
AIRBUS A310- 304 e AIRBUS A310-325
MOTORS GENERAL ELECTRIC, MODELO CF6-80C2A2POTENCIA 52.460 LBS
Number of aircraft in service _ 4
Registration numbers and christian name
CSTGU – TERCEIRA
CSTGV- SÃO MIGUEL
CSTKM- AUTONOMIA
CSTKN- MACARONESIA
AIRBUS A320-212 e AIRBUS A320 - 214
MOTORS CFMI (ELECTRIC/ SNECMA) MODELO CFM56-5B/P4
– POTENCIA 26.500 LBS
Number of aircraft in service _ 4
Registration numbers and christian name
CSTKJ- PICO
CSTKK- CORVO
CSTKO- DIASPORA
CSTKL-SÃO JORGE
BAE-ATP
MOTORS PRATT&WHITNEY 126 POTENCIA DE 2,296 ESHP
Number of aircrafts in service _5
Registration numbers and Christian Name
CSTFJ – AÇORES
CSTGL- SANTA MARIA
CSTGN-FLORES
CSTGX-FAIAL
CSTGY
BOMBARDIER Q200
MOTORS PRATTS&WHITNEY CANADÁ PW123 C/D
TURBOPROP ENGINE – 2,150 SHP
Number of aircraft in service _2
Registration number and Christian Name
CSTRB – FAIAL
CSTRC- GRACIOSA
Route Grid |
Regular Air Service | Domestic Flights
Continental Portugal and Islands, Regular Air Service | Europe | International Flights
Lisbon > Ponta Delgada> Lisbon | Lisbon> Horta> Lisbon | Lisbon> Terceira> Lisbon |Lisbon> Sta
Maria> Ponta Delgada> Lisbon | Porto> Ponta Delgada> Porto | Lisbon> Funchal> Lisbon |
Lisbon> Porto Santo> Lisbon | Ponta Delgada> Terceira> Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada> Santa
Maria> Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada> Santa Maria> Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada> Flores>
Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada> Horta> Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada> São Jorge> Ponta
Delgada | Ponta Delgada> Pico> Ponta Delgada | Terceira> Horta> Terceira | Terceira> Graciosa>
Terceira | Terceira> Graciosa> Terceira | Terceira> São Jorge> Terceira | Terceira> Pico> Terceira
| Terceira> Flores> Terceira | Horta> Flores> Horta | Horta> Corvo> Horta | Corvo> Flores> Corvo
| Funchal> Porto Santo> Funchal |
Regular Air Service | Europe | International Flights
Ponta Delgada> Frankfurt> Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada> Amesterdam > Ponta Delgada |
Ponta Delgada> London> Manchester> Ponta Delgada | Funchal> Paris> Funchal | Funchal>
Dublin> Funchal | Funchal> Gran Canária > Funchal | Funchal> Zurique> Funchal | Ponta Delgada
> Stockholm > Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada > Copenhagen > Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada |
Oslo > Ponta Delgada | Funchal > Copenhagen > Funchal| Funchal > Stockholm > Funchal.
Regular Air Service | North America
Ponta Delgada> Boston> Ponta Delgada | Ponta Delgada> Toronto> Ponta Delgada | Ponta
Delgada> Montreal> Ponta Delgada | Terceira> Toronto> Terceira | Terceira> Montreal> Terceira
| Terceira> Boston> Terceira | Terceira> Oakland> Terceira | Lisboa> Boston> Lisboa | Lisboa>
Toronto> Lisboa | Faro> Toronto> Faro | Porto> Toronto> Porto | Porto> Boston> Porto
Charter Operations | Common Charter Routes | Common Routes
Lisbon > Punta Cana > Lisbon |Funchal > Tenerife > Funchal | Lisboa > Boavista > Lisbon Lisbon >
Sal > Lisbon | Lisbon > Agadir > Lisbon | Paris > Terceira > Paris | Ponta Delgada > Viena > Ponta
Delgada |Lisbon > Boavista > Lisbon | Funchal > Marseilles > Funchal |Funchal > Lyon > Funchal
|Funchal > East Midland > Funchal | Lisboa > Palma de Maiorca > Lisboa.
For more information :
SATA : www.sata.pt
IATA /IOSA http://www.iata.org/search.htm?q=iosa&sc=all
ERA http://www.eraa.org/
BOMBARDIER http://www.bombardier.com/en/corporate/media-centre/index
AIRBUS http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/
BRITISH AEROSPACE ATP http://www.baesystems.com/Search/index.aspx?search=atp
ICAO http://www.icao.int/
INAC http://www.inac.pt/VPT/IMPRENSA/Paginas/HomepageDaImprensa.aspx
EASA http://www.easa.eu.int/ws_prod/index.html
EADS http://www.eads.com/1024/en/Homepage1024.html
Last review
Oct. 2009