The Portuguese flag carrier air portugal has one of the most distinctive liveries out there and is instantly recognizable. But it’s not always the most popular choice among UK passengers due to its relatively small fleet and non-frequent flights.
The airline is in the process of revamping itself, hiring new employees and changing its corporate culture. It’s a good time to fly on TAP Air Portugal, says Abilio Martins, the airline’s chief marketing officer.
History
Founded in 1945, air portugal is a Portuguese national airline that serves 93 destinations across Europe, Africa, and North America. It operates a fleet of 100 aircraft and offers reasonably priced Transatlantic flights.
Originally known as Transportes Aereos Portugueses, or TAP, the name changed in 1979 to make it more globally recognizable. The airline is a member of the Star Alliance, an association that brings together airlines with similar business models.
As a result, it has a relatively large fleet of wide-body aircraft, which allows it to fly to a range of destinations around the world. It also flies to smaller airports in the United States, and plans to double its North American routes in the next year and a half.
In addition to its extensive international route network, air portugal has a strong focus on connecting Portugal with its former colonies and countries in the Cape Verde group. It is the only national carrier between these islands.
Aircraft fleet
Air Portugal operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft, including the A320 and A330neo families. The airline is replacing its older A330-200s with the modern A330neos and has plans to do the same with its aging A340 fleet by 2020.
Today, the TAP Air Portugal aircraft fleet consists of 71 Airbus jets and is expected to grow to 100 by 2020. Most of its long-haul fleet is comprised of A330neos and A321LRs.
TAP’s medium-haul fleet consists of A319-100s, A320-200s and A321-LRs. The latter are currently the oldest aircraft in the TAP fleet, with an average age of 22 years.
In addition to the Airbus jets, TAP also operates a small number of Boeing 747-200s. The airline is one of a few airlines that still operate the old-school jumbo planes, but it has decided to replace these with the newer A330neos.
Routes operated
TAP Air Portugal operates flights to a variety of destinations across Europe, North America, South America and Africa. Its fleet consists of one- to three-class aircraft and is part of the Star Alliance network.
TAP’s fleet primarily flies to long-haul destinations, but it also offers an excellent stopover program to travelers who wish to make a stop in Lisbon or Porto before continuing their journey to a final destination in Europe, the Middle East or Africa.
The airline has also recently launched new routes to North Africa and Brazil, including services to Cairo in Egypt and Sao Paulo in Brazil. Its summer 2023 schedule will also see the return of some seasonal routes to popular European destinations.
The airline has a small but well-equipped fleet and fares aren’t as low as some budget airlines, like RyanAir, but it is able to offer good service at a fair price. It also participates in TSA pre-check at all US gateways and is a member of the Star Alliance loyalty program.
Customer service
Portugal’s national airline, Transportes Aereos Portugueses (TAP Air Portugal) was founded in 1945 and operates flights to a range of destinations across Europe, Africa and North America.
Despite this, TAP Air Portugal has a lot of room for improvement when it comes to their customer service. The website is constantly malfunctioning, the phone app isn’t very helpful and they can be difficult to reach via customer service if you need help or have a complaint.
To help improve its customer service, TAP Air Portugal has made a commitment to modernising its fleet of aircraft and investing in new and better technology. The new planes, which are generally about five years old, feature a host of upgrades to ensure passengers get the best possible in-flight experience including Wi-Fi, crisp entertainment screens and new, well-padded seating.
TAP also offers a stopover program in Lisbon and Porto which is available on many intercontinental flights. Selecting this option will allow you to stay in the Portuguese cities without having to pay any extra fees or charges.