The Regional Secretariat for Economy, Tourism and Culture (SRETC) is “surprised” by the implementation of new eligibility criteria for the Social Allowance of Mobility (SSM) of routes with connecting flights, to and/or from Madeira to Porto Santo.
The National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), has advised Correios de Portugal (CTT), who pay the subsidy, that, from now on, flights to Porto Santo – Funchal – Porto Santo are no longer eligible for payment under the mobility allowance unless the ticket is purchased outside the region via TAP or SATA.
Responding to this, the Regional Government immediately sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Infrastructure and ANAC (with the knowledge of CTT), requesting the immediate reversal of the measure, arguing that it compromises the right to mobility of residents in Porto Santo.
In this morning’s communication, SRETC recalls that the legislation applicable to the mobility allowance (article 1 of Decree-Law No. 28/2022 of 24 March) states that “the transitional regime established by this Decree-Law shall also apply to any connection with Porto Santo, even if the beneficiary passengers have to use the inter-island, air or and have as their final destination the mainland or the Autonomous Region of Azores, as well as to all voyages whose final destination or stopover is a port or airport located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores or on the mainland, provided that it is included in a single ticket number, irrespective of the number of stopovers.”
ANAC is a commercial company who are responsible for the safe and economic operation of their airports. The mobility allowance is awarded, presumably, by the government, and therefore its withdrawal is a government responsibility and outside the jurisdiction of a commercial operator.
The other question that should be addressed is who gave ANAC authorisation to contact CTT and advise them of the withdrawal of the travel allowance.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
