Getting to the Azores: A Practical Guide to Flights and Airports
Which island to fly into, direct connections, and how to plan your arrival.
The Azores often feel like they sit at the edge of the world — yet they are surprisingly accessible. Located in the middle of the Atlantic, the islands are roughly four hours from Boston and just over two hours from Lisbon.
Still, with nine islands and multiple airports, booking your initial flight can be confusing. You don’t fly to “the Azores” in general. You fly to a specific island.
Understanding where to land — and why — makes the start of your trip far smoother.
The Main Gateways: PDL and TER
Although all nine islands have airports, only a few handle regular international traffic.
Ponta Delgada (PDL) – São Miguel Island
This is the main gateway to the Azores. Around 90% of international travelers arrive here.
Ponta Delgada offers the widest range of connections to both Europe and North America. For first-time visitors, this is usually the most practical and flexible place to start.
Lajes (TER) – Terceira Island
Terceira serves as the secondary international hub.
It has strong connections to mainland Portugal and the United States, particularly Boston and seasonal routes from North America. It’s an excellent entry point if your focus is on the Central Group (Terceira, Pico, São Jorge, and Faial) and you’d prefer to avoid the busier atmosphere of São Miguel.
Horta (HOR) & Pico (PIX)
Occasionally, there are direct flights from Lisbon to Faial or Pico. These routes are less frequent and often seasonal, but they can be a good option if your timing aligns.
Flying from North America
For travelers coming from the United States or Canada, the Azores are more accessible than many expect.
Azores Airlines (the international arm of SATA) operates direct flights to Ponta Delgada from cities such as:
Boston
Toronto
New York (JFK)
Montreal (seasonal)
The main advantage of these routes is simplicity. You avoid a layover in mainland Europe and arrive directly in the middle of the Atlantic, often feeling far fresher than after multiple connections.
Flying from Europe
If you’re traveling from Europe, there are two main approaches.
Direct Flights to the Azores
Seasonal direct flights operate from cities like London, Frankfurt, and Paris, mostly during summer. These are convenient when available but limited in frequency.
Connecting via Lisbon or Porto
This is the most common and reliable option year-round.
You fly into Lisbon (LIS) or Porto (OPO) and then take a domestic flight to Ponta Delgada or Terceira. Airlines such as TAP Air Portugal, Ryanair, and Azores Airlines operate multiple daily connections.
This route offers flexibility and usually more schedule options.
A Crucial Distinction: Azores Airlines vs. SATA Air Açores
This point causes confusion for many visitors.
Azores Airlines handles international flights. These are the larger Airbus aircraft (A320/A321) bringing travelers to and from the archipelago.
SATA Air Açores operates inter-island flights using smaller turboprop aircraft (Dash 8), connecting the islands once you’re here.
Why this matters:
If you’re booking a connection, allow sufficient buffer time. International arrivals and inter-island flights often have different check-in procedures, and weather-related delays are always a possibility.
A Note on Stopovers and Arrival Strategy
If your final destination is one of the smaller islands — such as Flores or São Jorge — avoid tight same-day connections, especially if your international flight arrives late in the afternoon or evening.
Weather affects aviation in the Azores. A delayed international flight can easily cause you to miss the last inter-island connection of the day.
For this reason, I almost always recommend spending your first night in Ponta Delgada or Terceira. It allows you to:
recover from travel
collect supplies
adjust to local conditions
continue onward the next morning with far less stress
Arriving rested often makes a bigger difference than arriving quickly.
Planning Beyond the Flight
Getting to the Azores is usually the easy part. Designing an itinerary that makes sense once you’re here — especially when weather and island logistics come into play — is where things become more complex.
If you’d like guidance on structuring your route, managing connections, and arriving ready to experience (or photograph) the islands, my Azores Photo Workshops include logistical planning as part of the experience.
This article was created with the support of AI and refined with first-hand local knowledge and field experience by Azores-based photographer and guide Bruno Ázera.
