Air link will continue running at least “for a few more months”
The Portuguese government and operator Sevenair have found a temporary solution to ensure that the Bragança-Portimão air link is not suspended on February 28.
The current four-year concession contract for the air route – which links Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Cascais, and Portimão – ends on February 28. However, it was only on February 7 that the government authorised an expenditure of €13.5 million for a new concession, to be chosen through a public tender, a process which could take several months.
In order to avoid the suspension of the air link, the government pitched a temporary solution which involves contracting the operator through a direct award process for “a few more months until the tender is completed,” Sevenair administrator Carlos Amaro told Jornal de Notícias.
An official source from the office of the Secretary of State for Infrastructure has also confirmed that a “transitory solution” was found to keep the route active from February 29 onwards.
During this transitory period, there will be a reduction of the number of daily flights, Carlos Amaro revealed, adding that the government and the operator agreed on a €750,000 contract – a sum that the operator hopes will keep the air link running for “as long as possible” so that the tender can be completed.
While Sevenair is planning to participate in the tender, it is waiting to know more details before making any kind of guarantee.
“The expenditure authorised by the government, around €13.5 million, is higher than before. Only by analysing the tender rules will we know if it interests us, but the government has increased the amount of expedinture, which had not been revised for 15 years. We had informed (the government) that we would not apply again with the same amount because it would be impossible,” the administrator said.
As Carlos Amaro explained, it would be “difficult” to continue running the route with the previous €10.5 million agreement. “Fuel alone has more than doubled,” he said.
michael.bruxo@portugalresident.com
