For many budget travellers, the Azores were the dream: wild Atlantic islands, direct low-cost flights and return tickets sometimes from 20–40 EUR. That era is now coming to an end. Ryanair has announced that it will cancel all flights to and from the Azores from 29 March 2026, removing six routes and around 400,000 seats per year.

What exactly is changing, why is Ryanair leaving, and – most importantly – how can you still visit the Azores without destroying your budget? Let’s break it down.

What has Ryanair announced?

On 20 November 2025 Ryanair confirmed that:

• All flights to and from the Azores will stop from 29 March 2026 (the start of the summer schedule)
• Around 400,000 passengers per year will be lost
• Six routes will disappear, including popular links between the Azores and Lisbon, Porto, London, Brussels and other cities

In practice, that means:

• Until March 2026: Ryanair continues to fly as planned
• From 29 March 2026: No more Ryanair flights to any Azorean airport (Ponta Delgada, Terceira, etc.), unless there is a last-minute political or commercial U-turn

So if you see cheap Ryanair tickets to the Azores for winter 2025/26 – yes, they are still valid. But for summer 2026 and beyond you’ll need a Plan B.

Why is Ryanair leaving the Azores?

Ryanair doesn’t often leave a region completely without a fight, so when they do, there is usually a money story behind it. In their statement, the airline mainly blames rising costs:

• Higher airport fees charged by ANA (the Portuguese airport operator, owned by French group Vinci)
• A big increase in air-navigation (ATC) charges in Portugal after Covid
• A new 2 EUR “travel tax” per passenger from the Portuguese government
• Extra costs linked to EU environmental taxes that apply to short-haul intra-EU flights

Ryanair’s argument is simple: when airport and regulatory costs go up, they move their aircraft to other airports and countries where the fees are lower and incentives are better.

The Azores are not the first to feel this threat. Recently Ryanair has cut or reduced capacity in countries like Spain, Germany, Austria and others when they were unhappy with taxes or fees. The islands are now part of this wider strategy.

What does this mean for travellers?

For travellers – especially backpackers and budget tourists – the consequences are clear:

• No more ultra-cheap Ryanair promotions like 9.99 EUR one-way or 29.99 EUR return
• Less capacity on the Azores routes in general, which usually leads to higher prices on remaining airlines
• Fewer direct low-cost options from Northern and Central Europe make weekend trips and spontaneous short breaks harder

For the local tourism industry, this is a serious hit:

• The loss of 400,000 passengers a year is huge for such a small region
• Many hotels, guesthouses, car-rental companies and tour operators grew thanks to Ryanair’s volume and seasonality
• Politically, it puts pressure on Lisbon and ANA to rethink how remote regions like the Azores are taxed and supported

Is this really the end of cheap flights to the Azores?

It’s the end of Ryanair-level prices on those six routes – but it’s not the end of all deals.

Cheap flights will be harder to find and will probably require more flexibility and a bit more planning, but there are still options.

Which airlines will still fly to the Azores?

Azores Airlines (SATA)

Azores Airlines, also known as SATA, is based in the islands and will continue to fly:

• Between the Azores and Lisbon and Porto
• From the Azores to several European cities, such as Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, London (often seasonal)
• Across the Atlantic to Boston, Toronto, New York and other long-haul destinations

They often have promotions where mainland–Azores returns start from around 80–100 EUR, and sometimes even less in low season.

7 best places to visit in the AZORES

TAP Air Portugal

TAP will also remain an important player, with:

• Multiple daily flights from Lisbon and Porto to Ponta Delgada and Terceira
• Connections from all over Europe via Lisbon

TAP is not a low-cost airline, but with good promo fares, TAP Miles&Go miles or Star Alliance partner miles, you can still find decent prices, especially outside school holidays.

Other European airlines

Depending on the season, you may also see:

• British Airways (London – Ponta Delgada in summer)
• Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, Transavia, TUI, Edelweiss, Iberia and others on various seasonal routes

These flights are less likely to be 20 EUR one-way, but combining them with another cheap ticket to a hub (for example, Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt or London) can still work out cheaper than a classic package holiday.

How to still visit the Azores on a budget (after March 2026)

Here are a few practical strategies to keep your Azores trip affordable even without Ryanair.

1. Build your own connection via Lisbon or Porto

This will probably become the new “standard” budget strategy:

1. Find the cheapest flight to Lisbon or Porto from your home country (any airline: Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, Norwegian, etc.).
2. Book a separate ticket from Lisbon/Porto to the Azores on Azores Airlines or TAP.

Mainland–Azores fares can be attractive in promos – sometimes under 90 EUR return. Combine that with a good deal to Lisbon/Porto and the total can still be reasonable.

Just keep in mind:

• Separate tickets = separate responsibility. If your first flight is delayed and you miss the second, the second airline doesn’t have to rebook you for free.
• Always leave a longer layover, especially in winter, or consider adding one night in Lisbon or Porto – a great excuse to explore the city.

2. Watch for Azores Airlines promos from your country

If Azores Airlines flies directly from your country (or a nearby one), sign up for their newsletter and follow them on social media. They run promotions a few times a year.

Useful tricks:

• Check “multi-city” or “open-jaw”: fly to one island (e.g. Ponta Delgada on São Miguel) and return from another (e.g. Terceira).
• Use the Azores as a stopover on the way to or from North America – sometimes cheaper than a classic direct Europe–USA/Canada ticket.

3. Combine flights and ferries

In summer, the Azores have decent ferry connections between islands. A smart budget route can look like this:

• Fly to Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) – usually the cheapest and best served
• Spend a few days there
• Take a ferry to Pico, Faial or São Jorge
• Fly back home from another island with Azores Airlines or TAP

Ferries are slower but can be cheaper than multiple inter-island flights, especially if you travel with friends or family.

4. Be flexible with dates and islands

The Azores are not only about São Miguel. Sometimes it’s cheaper to:

• Fly to Terceira instead of São Miguel, or the other way around
• Travel in April–May or September–October instead of peak summer
• Fly in the middle of the week instead of weekends

Use flexible date search on flight comparison websites and play around with different islands as your starting or ending point.

What if I already have a Ryanair ticket to the Azores?

If your Ryanair trip is before 29 March 2026, nothing changes for now – flights continue as scheduled.

If, in the future, Ryanair cancels flights after 29 March 2026 and you are affected, then:

• You are entitled to a refund or re-routing under EU261 rules
• Whether you get extra monetary compensation depends on the exact timing and circumstances of the cancellation

Cancelled Flights Compensation in the EU up to €600: Your Ultimate Guide

If you booked separate connections (for example, another airline to Lisbon + Ryanair from Lisbon to the Azores), remember that only the cancelled segment is protected. The other airline does not have to help if you miss your flight because Ryanair changed the schedule. Travel insurance and long layovers become even more important in such cases.

Could Ryanair come back to the Azores?

With Ryanair, nothing is ever 100% final. The airline is clearly using this move to put pressure on ANA and the Portuguese government. If:

• Airport fees are reduced, or
• New incentives are offered, or
• Political pressure becomes too strong,

Ryanair could reconsider and return in the future – maybe with fewer routes or less capacity, but still.

However, travellers should plan with the assumption that Ryanair will not fly to the Azores for at least some time after March 2026. If the situation improves and cheap flights reappear, that will be a pleasant surprise.

Conclusion: Azores still worth it – just no longer “9.99 EUR worth it”

Yes, it’s the end of a crazy good chapter: those legendary 9.99 EUR Ryanair tickets to some of the most beautiful islands in Europe. But the Azores themselves haven’t gone anywhere. The landscapes, hot springs, crater lakes, whale watching and quiet villages are still there – you’ll just need a bit more creativity to get there cheaply.

If you’re planning to visit:

• Use Lisbon/Porto as hubs
• Watch Azores Airlines and TAP promos
• Be flexible with dates and islands
• Combine flights + ferries where it makes sense

And of course, keep an eye on TravelFree – if any interesting Azores deals appear, with or without Ryanair, we’ll be the first to share them. 🌿✈️