TAP Air Portugal: A Milestone Year

From small airline to global success, TAP Air Portugal turns 80 and better than ever.

What started as a company connecting Portuguese and Spanish cities in 1945 has since burgeoned into an international and far-reaching airline. TAP Air Portugal continues to push the boundaries today, growing across North America, Europe and Africa.

© TAP Air Portugal

The airline’s growth in the United States alone has been one for the books. It first began service between the United States and Portugal in 1969 with a limited number of options.

Now operating flights to more than 90 airports across the country, TAP Air Portugal connects to eight U.S. gateways, including Boston (BOS); Los Angeles (LAX); Chicago (ORD); Miami (MIA); Newark (EWR); San Francisco (SFO); New York (JFK); and Washington, D.C. (IAD). Additionally, TAP Air Portugal offers a unique link between San Francisco and Terceira (TER) in the Azores.

Across all of North America, the airline serves 11 gateways in total, connecting other major North American cities like Toronto (YYZ) and Montréal (YUL), Canada, and Cancún, Mexico (CUN).

© TAP Air Portugal

Beyond the airline’s astounding success in North America, TAP Air Portugal also celebrates its 80^th anniversary this year. Initially operating under the name Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, TAP Air Portugal launched its inaugural flight in 1946 between Lisbon and Madrid via a DC-3 Dakota aircraft, with just 11 passengers onboard. Fast forward to 2024, and TAP Air Portugal transported more than 16 million passengers.

The airline’s connectivity spills into its many codeshare agreements with airlines across the globe, including United Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines, to name a few. TAP is a member of Star Alliance.

Of course, TAP’s aircraft have come a long way since its first flight. As of 2019, the airline has a fleet of 100 aircraft, all manufactured by Airbus. The airline’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its 12 Airbus A320neo aircraft and 23 Airbus A321neo aircraft. Both aircraft save more fuel than its counterparts, reducing fuel consumption per seat by as much as 20 percent.

Onboard TAP’s aircraft are both business and economy classes. The airline’s business class has repeatedly won accolades over the years for its service, comfort and amenities. Business-class seats come with full-flat recline, transforming into beds, complete with headrests and, on select routes, enveloping duvets. On medium-haul flights, business-class passengers also enjoy greater comfort and privacy with a blocked middle seat.

© TAP Air Portugal

Meals served in TAP’s business class highlight the best of Portuguese cuisine and culture. Dishes are prepared with fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients, and all food is served on Portuguese porcelain. Accompanying meals is a thoughtfully curated selection of exclusively Portuguese wines.

Business-class customers also have access to noise-cancelling headphones and plugs for laptops. TAP’s business-class amenity kits, available in four colors and waiting onboard for business-class passengers, are made exclusively from ecological rPET material in partnership with Portuguese cosmetics brand Benamôr.

© TAP Air Portugal

With TAP Air Portugal’s Portugal Stopover, you can include a free stopover in Lisbon or Porto for up to 10 days on your inbound or outbound trip.

Use this opportunity to visit two destinations for the price of one. Explore a second region of the country during your Stopover with TAP’s 25 percent discount on any domestic flight within Portugal. You can enjoy Lisbon and visit the Azores or Madeira!

Additionally, the Portugal Stopover program grants you access to discounts and special offers from more than 150 partners across the country. Explore a wide range of options, including hotels, restaurants, activities, tours, museums, cultural venues, shops and more.

Enhance your trip with unique and unforgettable experiences. Discover even more Portugal.

So, what are you waiting for? Portugal’s wonders and beauty call, and TAP Air Portugal is ready to help you answer.