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The Azores islands are a paradise on earth but I reckon that it is a bit overwhelming to start planning your trip. After all, we are talking about 9 islands lost in the middle of the Atlantic, with dozens of flight connections from all over the world. But worry not!, on this article you find all the useful information you need:
- Airlines that fly to the Azores
- Direct flights to the Azores
- Cheap flights to the Azores
- Fly between Azores islands
- Azores airports
Which airline companies have direct flights to the Azores islands?
North American Routes
USA: There are currently two airlines flying directly from the USA to the Azores: United and Azores airlines, via the airport of Boston (BOS) and the airports in New York City (JFK and EWR), directly to the islands of São Miguel (PDL) and Terceira (TER), the main islands in the Azores.
European Routes
These days there are plenty of European cities connecting to the Azores islands, so I’ll write here the most important ones:
| Country of Origin | City of Origin | Destination | Airline company |
| Portugal | Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO), Funchal in Madeira island (FNC) | São Miguel (PDL), Terceira (TER) e Faial (HOR). | Azores Airlines Ryanair TAP Portugal |
| Spain | 1. Madrid (MAD) 2. Barcelona (BCN) and Bilbao (BIO) 3. Las Palmas (LPA) | 1. São Miguel Island (PDO) 2. São Miguel Island (PDO) 3. São Miguel Island (PDO) | 1. Iberia 2. Azores Airlines 3. Binter |
| France | Paris (CDG) | São Miguel Island (PDO) | Azores Airlines |
| Germany | 1. Frankfurt (FRA) 2. Nuremberg (NUE) | 1. São Miguel Island (PDO) 2. São Miguel Island (PDO) | 1. Azores Airlines and Lufthansa 2. Ryanair |
| United Kingdom | 1. London Stansted (STN) 2. London Heathrow (LHR) | 1. São Miguel Island (PDO) 2. São Miguel Island (PDO) and Terceira island (TER) | 1. Ryanair 2. British Airways |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam (AMS) | São Miguel Island (PDO) | Transavia and TUI Fly |
| Switzerland | 1. Geneva (GVA) 2. Zurich (ZRH) | 1. São Miguel Island (PDO) 2. São Miguel Island (PDO) | 1. Swiss 2. Edelweiss |
| Czech Republic | Prague (PRH) | São Miguel Island (PDO) | SmartWings |
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Once you arrive in (most likely) Ponta Delgada airport in São Miguel island, you then need to take an internal flight by SATA Azores airlines in order to reach other islands. Make sure to read my article about how to travel between the Azores islands.
Cheap flights to the Azores
Usually the cheapest flights are operated by Ryanair and, quite understandingly, between mainland Portugal (from Porto and from Lisbon) and the Azores islands (Ponta Delgada, in São Miguel island, as well as Lajes, in Terceira island). There is also a direct connection from London Stansted (in the United Kingdom) and Nuremberg (in Germany) to São Miguel island:
| Departure | Destination |
| London Stansted (STN), in the UK | Ponta Delgada airport (PDL), in São Miguel island |
| Nuremberg (NUE), in Germany | Ponta Delgada airport (PDL), in São Miguel island |
| Lisbon (LIS) in Portugal | Ponta Delgada airport (PDL), in São Miguel island |
| Porto (OPO), in Portugal | Ponta Delgada airport (PDL), in São Miguel island |
| Lisbon (LIS) in Portugal | Terceira Lajes (TER), in Terceira island |
| Porto (OPO), in Portugal | Terceira Lajes (TER), in Terceira island |
Airports in the Azores islands
All the Azores islands (even the tiny tiny Corvo) have their own airport, which are served by these airlines:
| São Miguel island | João Paulo II airport (PDL), in Ponta Delgada | Azores airlines British Airways Edelweiss Lufhtansa Ryanair SmartWings TAP Portugal TUI Fly Transavia SATA Air Açores Swiss United |
| Terceira island | Lajes airport (TER), in Praia da Vitória | Azores Airlines Ryanair SATA Air Açores TAP Portugal |
| Pico island | Pico airport (PIX), in Madalena | TAP Portugal SATA Air Açores |
| Faial island | Horta airport (HOR), in Horta (the city) | Azores Airlines SATA Air Açores |
| São Jorge island | São Jorge airport (SJZ), in Velas | SATA Air Açores |
| Graciosa island | Graciosa airport (GRW), in Santa Cruz da Graciosa | SATA Air Açores |
| Flores island | Flores airport (FLW), in Santa Cruz das Flores | SATA Air Açores |
| Santa Maria island | Santa Maria airport (SMA) in Vila do Porto | SATA Air Açores |
| Corvo island | Corvo airport (CVU), in Vila do Corvo | SATA Air Açores |
How is the airport in São Miguel island (PDL)?
Practically 90% of flights that land in the Azores arrive at Ponta Delgada airport (PDL), on the island of São Miguel. It’s a small airport – less than 3 km long) – but quite well equipped:
- 9 car rental boots – as I already explained on this article, the best (and to be honest, only) way to explore ANY of the Azorean islands is to rent a car so it is great to have so many options at São Miguel island’s airport.
- ANC Aerobus – shuttle to the city (at the end of the corridor, on the left side as you enter the airport).
- Tourism office.
- 2 or 3 Azorean souvenir shops – one for food, another for jewelry and one for arts & crafts.
- A Travel & business store, where they sell suitcases (including Samsonite and Porch’s travel) and also travel accessories.
- An information desk for SATA and another for Ryanair.
- Post office with an automatic machine to buy stamps.
Travel between the Azores islands
I already wrote a detailed guide about how to travel between the Azores islands so I recommend you to take a close look at that article as it tells you all you need to know about this topic. You may also find my article about the Azores ferries very useful.
