Even before resuming in Algarve, Sevenair hits new obstacle
Sevenair – the internal airline struggling to operate the Trás-os-Montes/ Algarve route – has accused the mayor of Cascais, Carlos Carreiras, of ‘paralysing’ flights from today onwards.
The airline only returned to business last month, and then only partially. Three key stops (Viseu, Vila Real and Portimão) are not due to start before the end of this month.
But now, the way forwards is in new flux. In a statement sent to Lusa news agency, Sevenair claims Mayor Carreiras has ordered the suspension of its services from Cascais Aerodrome, due to an “alleged debt in handling fees” of €107,000, which the group itself is contesting.
“A mayor at the end of his term, and with internal party conflicts, decided to make news”, says the statement, which adds that for the time being Sevenair will try to struggle on. It had a plane due to land in Cascais at 9am today, and simply hopes the service will be allowed to continue as normal.
UPDATE: This did not happen: the plane was ‘retained’, due to the alleged debt, and has not been allowed to continue with its journey.
The Sevenair group adds that it “deeply regrets this isolated and incoherent attitude (…) which puts at risk the continuity of the air connection, vital for local populations”, adding that “the government is aware of this situation and the attitude” of Carlos Carreiras.
“Sevenair will continue to work with the competent authorities to resolve this impasse and ensure the continuity of services provided to the Portuguese population. Sevenair reaffirms its commitment to the quality of service and connectivity of the regions it serves, and will continue to strive to maintain and develop its operations”, the group stresses.
Sevenair recalls that over the last 15 years “it has played a fundamental role, with a constant commitment, in ensuring faithful and reliable air connections between Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Cascais and Portimão”.
“During this period, the company has worked hard to ensure not only the efficiency and punctuality of its flights, but also the safety and comfort of all passengers. The trust placed in us by the Portuguese community over these years reflects Sevenair’s continued effort to contribute to the development of air mobility in Portugal,” the group highlights.
Despite “constant financial constraints caused by chronic delays in payments by the state, which have already led to the inevitable cancellation of some services and forced the company to go into lay-off”, Sevenair guarantees that “it has continued to operate and fulfil its commitment to the Portuguese population”.
What happens next will come clear all too soon. But for the time being, at least, the shuttle service that used to help north-south business connections, and has still not returned to being fully operational, is in yet another state of turmoil, after months of hiatus.
