ANA airport firefighters in Azores may move to private provider
Azores GuideANA-Vinci says a private operator will provide emergency services at four Azores airports from March 2027, and the 60 current firefighters may transfer under legally applicable terms.
ANA said it defined a new contracting and service model for SSLCI in the Azores to guarantee continuity, safety and quality of service at the region's airports. The company said airport emergency services in the Azores had been contracted with fire associations.
From March 2027, emergency services at the airports of Santa Maria, Ponta Delgada, Faial and Flores will no longer be provided by humanitarian volunteer fire associations and will be provided by a private operator. ANA-Vinci said the 60 firefighters currently providing SSLCI services may transfer to the new provider under legally applicable terms.
ANA said there had been repeated contractual compliance failures in recent years by associations at Horta and Flores airports. It said the failures were linked to difficulties in providing the contractually required human resources and risked jeopardising continuity of the public service and connectivity in the Azores.
ANA said integrating the four airports into a single service provision will allow the future provider to optimise resource management, including shared equipment and teams moving between airports. It said the model will help mitigate resource limitations on some islands and in certain circumstances. ANA-Vinci said the same situation has occurred at other airports on mainland Portugal and that the model aims to value experience and skills in the region while contributing to operational stability and continuity of service.
This week, the National Union of Professional Firefighters expressed concern about the future of more than 60 firefighters providing emergency response and firefighting services at Azores airports. The union said ANA's tender requirements meant associations did not submit bids because the conditions were unbearable for Azores associations. It said only Santa Maria submitted a bid, which was rejected. The union supports professionalising first intervention to absorb the workers and avoid job losses. It said the Azores are the country's only region without professionalised first intervention in fire brigades.
Sources
Azores Guide
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