In a statement, SATA Holding states that it has begun the "legal consultation period with the representative bodies of the workers" involved in ground handling, and has presented the "split-off plan that foresees the creation of a new company, SATA Handling".

"Once the consultation period with the workers is concluded, the formalisation of the split and the creation of SATA Handling are expected to take place during the month of March," the group adds.

SATA guarantees that it will hold meetings with the workers’ representative bodies, showing its willingness to provide "all necessary clarifications" and gather "their respective contributions" to promote "total transparency".


“Following the completion of the spin-off process, planning for the privatisation of SATA Handling will begin, which will also be conducted with shared information and continuous dialogue with the workers,” it details.

The SATA board of directors emphasises that it has “taken good note of the concerns expressed” by unions regarding the conduct of the process and the maintenance of jobs, and that it will maintain a “structured social dialogue”.

“The process of preparing the spin-off of the ‘handling’ business began about a year ago, through in-depth work with the group's management, particularly with the operational areas of ground handling.”


SATA also points out that the creation of a new company fulfils the restructuring plan approved by the European Commission and allows it to “respond to market needs”.

“This process, like the privatisation of Azores Airlines, constitutes an integral part of the restructuring plan agreed in 2022 with the European Commission, and its implementation is aligned with the schedule and obligations established in that context,” the statement reads.

On 22 January, the National Union of Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC) and the Union of Aviation and Airport Workers (SITAVA) rejected the split and privatisation of SATA Air Açores' handling service.

In a joint statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the two unions "reject the split and privatization" of SATA's handling operations and demand the "immediate suspension of any act to establish a new company until full and transparent negotiations take place."

On 5 January, the European Commission extended the deadlines for the airlines SATA and TAP to complete the sale of assets, a condition for the restructuring aid granted by the Government.

According to a statement from the European Commission, the Commission accepted Portugal's request to extend until 31 December 2026, the deadline for the Azorean Air Transport Company (SATA) to sell a majority stake (51%) in Azores Airlines, as well as for the carve-out and sale of its ground handling unit.