Brussels, 11/01/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 8 January, the European Investment Bank (EIB) granted a €37 million (USD 53 million) loan to SATA Air Açores (SATA) for the acquisition of four turboprop aircraft to provide inter-island transport services within the Azores archipelago, replacing the same number of older aircraft.
The aircraft will be operated by SATA from its home base at Ponta Delgada (Azores) on essential public services within the Azores and Madeira islands as well as on services to the Canary Islands in Spain. In the Azores archipelago, the only alternative mode of transport to inter-island aviation is maritime transport - an unattractive alternative, in particular for passenger transport, due to the relatively long distances and rough waters.
Air transport plays a vital role in ensuring basic access to education and health services across the islands. The high geographical fragmentation of the archipelago, combined with low population density, means that many health and higher education services are concentrated on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, making much of the population reliant on air transport to access them.
In a press release, the EIB says, too, that the new aircraft will replace older, less fuel efficient aircraft. (O.L./transl.rt)