Alerts Sign-up
Airline stopovers are becoming increasingly popular, with airlines hoping to attract connecting passengers to visit their home countries. Several airlines worldwide offer stopovers, which are free, extended periods between connecting flights, allowing people to explore a place not otherwise part of the planned itinerary. No airline in the United States offers stopover programs, but that does not mean there are no opportunities for those residing in the US to experience a stopover.
Azores Airlines, previously known as SATA Internacional, is based in Ponta Delgada, the largest city in the Azores archipelago. The SATA Group, which currently controls the airline, was founded in 1941, while Azores Airlines began operating in 1995. Five years later, the airline began serving the US and Canada.
Today, Azores Airlines serves three destinations in the US: Boston and New York City on the East Coast and Oakland on the West Coast. While Boston and New York City have some year-round routes, Oakland is only served during the summer. Throughout this season, Azores Airlines has about 45,000 seats to and from the US; this number drops to 15,000 by December.
