Airline codes
SP · SAT
IATA · ICAO · callsign “SATA”
SATA Air Açores’ IATA code is SP, its ICAO code is SAT, and the radio callsign is SATA. Type SP and your flight number into a status search to follow a SATA Air Açores flight.
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SATA Air Açores (SP) Guide
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Flights between the nine Azores islands, fleet, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper SATA Air Açores fares. Ask a question
In short
SATA Air Açores is the inter-island airline of the Azores, based at João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada and part of the SATA group. Its Dash 8 turboprops reach all nine islands of the archipelago, so it is the airline for hopping between them. SATA Air Açores has no alliance and runs SATA Imagine. All seats are Economy.
SATA Air Açores is the Azores’ regional airline, part of the state-owned SATA group, and the main way to travel between the islands by air.
Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with SATA Air Açores. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.
What to expect
SATA Air Açores is the inter-island airline of the Azores, the Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic, owned by the regional government and based at João Paulo II Airport (PDL) in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel. It links all nine islands and flies some routes to Madeira and the Canary Islands, and suits visitors island-hopping after arriving on a long-haul flight.
The 1941 founding of SATA
On 21 August 1941 a group of investors including Augusto Rebelo Arruda and José Bensaude founded the Sociedade Açoreana de Estudos Aéreos to study an inter-island air service. The first flight left Santa Maria in June 1947, a twin-engine Beechcraft named Açor carrying seven passengers under Captain Marciano Veiga.
Who owns SATA Air Açores?
The airline started as a private company in which Bensaude and Co. held half the shares. On 17 October 1980 it became a public company controlled by the Azores regional government and TAP Air Portugal, and took the SATA Air Açores name. It is the parent company of Grupo SATA, whose subsidiary Azores Airlines flies the group's mid- and long-haul routes. Teresa Gonçalves is chief executive.
Where does SATA Air Açores fly?
SATA Air Açores serves 13 destinations. From Ponta Delgada, with focus airports at Lajes on Terceira and Horta on Faial, it connects São Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Flores and Corvo, with a few routes to Madeira and the Canary Islands. It carries passengers, cargo and mail, does its own maintenance and handling, and manages four regional airports in the islands.
Island hopping between the Azores
Many visitors reach the Azores on Azores Airlines, TAP or other carriers and then use SATA Air Açores for island hopping. Booking the inter-island leg on the same ticket as the arrival flight lets bags travel through.
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Good to know
- Founded1941
- Other gatewaysTER / HOR
- Online check-inYes
Everything you should know
At a glance
SATA Air Açores (IATA: SP, ICAO: SAT) is the inter-island airline of the Azores, founded in 1941 and based at Ponta Delgada. Part of the SATA group, it flies 7 Dash 8 turboprops to all nine islands of the archipelago.
| Headquarters | Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal |
|---|---|
| Fleet types | Dash 8-400, Dash 8-200 |
| Frequent flyer | SATA Imagine |
| Official website | azoresairlines.pt |
Flight routes
Destinations and routes
The SATA Air Açores network at a glance. The airline changes routes from time to time, and a search shows which SP flights run on your dates.
Search flights
Azores
Ponta Delgada (PDL) departures8 destinations
FromTo PDL TER Ponta DelgadaTerceira Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
FromTo PDL HOR Ponta DelgadaHorta Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
FromTo PDL PIX Ponta DelgadaPico Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
FromTo PDL SJZ Ponta DelgadaSão Jorge Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
FromTo PDL GRW Ponta DelgadaGraciosa Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
FromTo PDL FLW Ponta DelgadaFlores Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
FromTo PDL CVU Ponta DelgadaCorvo Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
FromTo PDL SMA Ponta DelgadaSanta Maria Available airlines1 airline- SATA Air Açores
Fleet and aircraft
The fleet is seven De Havilland Canada turboprops, sized for short island runways: five Dash 8-Q400s with 80 seats and two Dash 8-Q200s with 37 seats, as of August 2025. Over the years the airline has flown DC-3s, DC-6s, HS 748s, Dornier 228s, BAe 146s and BAe ATPs.
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De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 Turboprop · 5 Main inter-island routes, 80 seats
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De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200 Turboprop · 2 Smaller islands such as Corvo, 37 seats
Cabin classes
One cabin.
Economy All flights
Short island hops
Checked bag on most fares
SATA Imagine
The SATA group’s frequent flyer programme.
Flights are short and sold in a single Economy cabin. SATA Imagine, the loyalty programme shared across Grupo SATA, lets members earn points on both SATA Air Açores and Azores Airlines flights. The airline is not in a global alliance.
Baggage allowance
On SATA Air Açores, the bag allowance follows your fare type, cabin and route, and the exact figure is printed on your SP e-ticket.
Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only
Turboprops have small overhead bins; larger cabin bags may go in the hold. Check your fare for the checked allowance.
Pro tip: Atlantic weather can delay or cancel inter-island flights, particularly in winter. Leave a buffer before onward connections, and check the baggage allowance for your fare on azoresairlines.pt, since the turboprops have limited hold space.
Travel day
Online Check-in
SATA Air Açores check-in comes down to four steps, from checking in online to dropping your bags at João Paulo II Airport.
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Step 1
Check in online
Online check-in for SP flights is on the official SATA Air Açores website or app. You need the SP booking reference or e-ticket number and the passenger’s surname.
Booking ref + surname -
Step 2
Prepare your documents
Pack your passport plus any visa, residence permit or entry papers your destination asks for. Domestic SP passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.
Passport · visa · ID -
Step 3
Arrive early
Get to the airport with time for SATA Air Açores check-in, bag drop and security. The airline sets a deadline for each airport, shown in your booking, and late arrivals can lose their seat.
Well before departure -
Step 4
Drop your bags
Hand in checked luggage at the SATA Air Açores counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.
SATA Air Açores counter
Ready to check in?
Check in and manage your booking on the official SATA Air Açores website.
Save money
Cheap tickets
Ways to pay less for a SATA Air Açores ticket, from the dates you choose to the fare type you buy.
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01
Be flexible with your SATA Air Açores dates
Compare a full week of SATA Air Açores departures; midweek days are often priced below Fridays and Sundays.
Midweek flights -
02
Avoid peak seasons
July and August are the busiest months for island-hopping; book early.
Summer -
03
Check what each SATA Air Açores fare includes
Look at the next SATA Air Açores fare up: if it bundles a hold bag or easier changes, it may beat the basic fare plus extras.
Baggage & changes -
Ready to compare fares?
Search SATA Air Açores alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.
Search SATA Air Açores flights
Reviews and questions
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Visitors are asking
SATA Air Açores flies between the Azores islands; Azores Airlines flies from the Azores to mainland Portugal, Europe and North America.
Yes. SATA Air Açores serves all nine islands, including Corvo, with smaller Dash 8 aircraft.
It depends on the SATA Air Açores fare you hold. The cheapest fares carry the strictest change rules, so read them before buying and make changes with the airline or the agent that issued the ticket.
On an infant ticket, a child under two usually flies on an adult’s lap. Add the baby when you book with SATA Air Açores and check what it allows for prams and car seats.
Search the SP flight number on SATA Air Açores’ website or app. Airport departure screens show the same status on the day.
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Get an answer from the bookingMentor travel team and travellers who have flown SATA Air Açores.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Everything travellers ask before flying SATA Air Açores.
Answers checked against SATA Air Açores’ official sources and public aviation references, and reviewed each season.
General
SATA Air Açores is the inter-island airline of the Azores. It connects the nine islands of the archipelago with scheduled passenger, cargo and mail flights and also serves a few routes to Madeira and the Canary Islands.
The airline is based at João Paulo II Airport in Ponta Delgada, on São Miguel island. Lajes Airport on Terceira and Horta Airport on Faial are also important airports in its network.
SATA Air Açores flies Bombardier Dash 8 turboprops: the larger Dash 8 Q400, with about 80 seats, and the smaller Dash 8 Q200, with about 37 seats. These aircraft suit the short runways and short sectors between the islands.
The regional government of the Azores controls SATA Air Açores, which became a public company in October 1980.
Yes. SATA Air Açores carries cargo and mail as well as passengers between the islands.
SATA Air Açores offers Economy class.
The SATA Air Açores frequent flyer programme is SATA Imagine. How members earn and spend points is explained in the SATA Imagine section of this guide.
Getting there
They are sister airlines in Grupo SATA. SATA Air Açores runs the flights between the islands, while Azores Airlines flies to mainland Portugal, Europe and North America. Both share the SATA Imagine loyalty programme.
Allowances depend on the fare you buy. Check the baggage section on the Azores Airlines and SATA website, or the details in your booking, before travelling. Smaller turboprops have limited hold space for bulky items.
SATA Air Açores uses the IATA code SP and the ICAO code SAT. Its radio callsign is SATA.
Online check-in: yes. Check in on azoresairlines.pt. The Check-in section of this guide walks through it in 4 steps.
No, SATA Air Açores is not a member of Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam.
Timing & weather
SATA Air Açores made its first flight in June 1947 from Santa Maria, with a Beechcraft named Açor carrying seven passengers.
Booking
SATA Air Açores has seven Dash 8 turboprops: five Q400s with 80 seats and two Q200s with 37 seats, as of August 2025.
SATA Air Açores serves 13 destinations, covering all nine Azores islands plus some routes to Madeira and the Canary Islands.