According to a press release, the first flight between Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, and London, “operated on the Azores Airlines 'Natural' Airbus A321ceo, with registration CS-TKP, landed at around 12:35 pm (Azores time) at Gatwick airport, having returned to Ponta Delgada, on the same day, landing at João Paulo II Airport, in Ponta Delgada, at 4:30 pm local time [5:30 pm in Lisbon).

Passengers were welcomed upon arrival at João Paulo II Airport, in Ponta Delgada, with “a welcome action, which included the offering of a symbolic blue flower, in allusion to the colors of Azores Airlines”, says the company in its statement.

“The reopening of this route, for which we have high expectations, is a moment experienced with great enthusiasm. Connecting the Azores to London means increasing the offer of destinations for our passengers and continuing to enhance the connectivity of our network”, says Graça Silva, Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication at Grupo SATA, quoted in the statement.

Graça Silva also highlights that “this is the right time to resume connections between the Azores” and London, a “reference European destination and a confluence of air traffic”.

Azores Airlines offers direct connections between London and Ponta Delgada, twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the operating hours “allow you to take advantage of the Azores Airlines StopOver Azores program, which offers the possibility of an intermediate stop until seven days, before continuing the journey to the final destination”, adds the company.