Showing posts with label TAP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TAP. Show all posts

12 March, 2024

TAP is Europe's Best Airline for Africa and South America


The airline also receives MICE Award for “Europe’s Best MICE Airline".


TAP Air Portugal received a double honour in Berlin at the joint ceremony of the World Travel Awards (WTA) and the MICE Awards.

It was chosen as the Best European Airline flying to Africa and South America at the WTA 2024, but this year it was also honoured as the Europe’s Best MICE Airline at the MICE Awards 2023.

The MICE Awards are the WTA's "sister" event for the Meetings, Incentive, Congress and Exhibition (MICE) area and this year they honoured TAP.

For the seventh year running, TAP has been honoured by the World Travel Awards as the best European airline flying to Africa and South America.

To Africa, TAP has 85 weekly flights from Porto and Lisbon to 14 destinations in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Morocco, Senegal, Gambia and Ghana.

02 February, 2024

AvAir Acquires Parts Inventory of TAP Maintenance & Engineering Brazil

AvAir, an industry-leading inventory solutions provider for the aviation aftermarket, has acquired TAP Maintenance & Engineering Brazil's entire inventory. More than 100,000 line items were obtained by AvAir from TAP M&E.

TAP M&E Brazil (formerly VEM Maintenance & Engineering) is a company of TAP Portugal Group, one of the world's 10 largest aircraft and component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) companies in the world.

AvAir has purchased TAP M&E Brazil's vast inventory of rotable and expendable parts from its Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre facilities. This inventory serviced narrow and widebody aircraft for most Boeing and Airbus fleet types. This inventory will be relocated to AvAir's Chandler warehouse.

"Costs and lead times continue to increase across the board to buy new or repair existing parts. Having the right inventory tagged and ready to go is something our customers expect from us," said Brandon Wesson, president at AvAir. "We're pleased to have been able to work with the TAP Air Portugal team to acquire this inventory and expand our offering for our customers."

With more than 26 million in-stock components, AvAir offers solutions for customers and suppliers to buy, sell, exchange, loan, lease, or manage assets and inventories. The company is ISO 9001, AS9120, and ASA 100 certified, and adheres to the highest quality standards in all phases: purchasing, receiving, stocking, sales, and shipping.


For more information about AvAir, visit AvAir.aero.

09 September, 2023

Sacked CEO of Portugal's airline TAP sues for $6.3 million in compensation

The former chief executive of Portuguese airline TAP, Christine Ourmieres-Widener, has filed a lawsuit in a Lisbon court to claim over €5.9 million ($6.3 million/£5.06 million) in compensation for being sacked last March amid a high-profile scandal.

The justice ministry's portal Citius shows that the lawsuit was entered with the Central Civil Court of Lisbon on Sept. 5.

Finance Minister Fernando Medina and Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba, who oversee the state-owned company, announced the sacking of the French CEO with just cause on March 6 in the wake of a scandal involving an irregular severance payment of 500,000 euros paid to a former board member.

A month later, the former CEO told parliament her dismissal was illegal and that she had been made "a scapegoat" as the payment had been authorised by the Infrastructure Ministry, whose then head Pedro Nuno Santos resigned last December and later ackno
wledged he approved the compensation.

The ministry and TAP declined to comment on the lawsuit.

The government is currently preparing to privatise TAP, with bigger rivals Lufthansa, Air France-KLM and British Airways owner IAG laying the groundwork for potential bids.  TAP, now led by Luis Rodrigues, swung to a net profit of €23 million in the first half from a loss of 202 million earlier on strong revenue growth.


Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Andrei Khalip and Jason Neely

27 September, 2022

TAP Air Portugal confirms data breach following massive hack

Photo TAP
TAP Air Portugal has confirmed it has been the victim of a massive data breach following a powerful hack that has left the personal details of around five million people, including those of Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa openly available on the dark web. 

The airline confirmed it had recently been the victim of a cyber-attack, last week which caused the company to call in the relevant authorities. TAP says it has been closely cooperating with authorities, in particular with the Portuguese Criminal Police and the Cybersecurity National Centre, on the investigation of these events since 25th August, when the hack took place. 

The attackers had been able to illegitimately access personal data from a large number of TAP customers, which could have very serious consequences for both the airline and the individuals concerned.  The hackers were able to get and release on the dark web, the following items of personal data: full name, nationality, gender, date of birth, address, email, telephone contact, customer registration date and frequent flyer number.  At the moment, the airline says that payment/credit card numbers were not taken or at risk, however, the true depths of the hack may not yet be known.

20 April, 2022

Aviation Capital Group confirm financing for two Airbus A321neo LR jets for TAP Air Portugal

Aviation Capital Group confirm financing for two Airbus A321neo LR jets for TAP Air Portugal



Aviation Capital Group has confirmed a deal for the financing of two Airbus A321NEOLR aircraft for the national carrier of Portugal, TAP.  

This financing marks the fifth use by ACG’s Aircraft Financing Solutions (“AFS”) program of its $650 million secured funding facility.  This allowed ACG to provide a senior secured loan to TAP and to partner with Novus Aviation Capital, who provided complementary mezzanine financing.  Together, ACG and Novus were able to offer TAP an attractive and comprehensive financing solution.  

 “ACG is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with TAP and Novus on this financing.  We were able to draw upon our established relationship with Novus to effectively meld the senior and junior loans and to provide TAP with timely and efficient financing.  Moreover, we were finally able to bring to fruition ACG’s long-held desire to work with TAP again,” said Andrew Falk, Managing Director of ACG.

Mamoun Kuzbari, Chief Commercial Officer, Novus Aviation Capital said: “We are delighted to complete this transaction with both ACG and TAP, continuing to support an existing airline customer. Not only are we building on our relationship with this additional financing for TAP, but we are also very proud to have a strong foundation with ACG that will allow both parties to collaborate on future opportunities. This debt structure is an attractive value proposition and the combination of asset type and stakeholders involved makes it appealing for both Novus and Tamweel Aviation Finance, one of the industry’s leading mezzanine loan providers.”

Gonçalo Pires, Chief Financial Officer of TAP Air Portugal said: “TAP is very pleased to work with ACG and Novus on this financing and we are very confident that these two additional A321neo LR aircraft that are joining our fleet, already one of the youngest and most efficient in the world, will contribute to the success of our airline,”





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14 April, 2022

Aviation Capital Group confirms financing for 2 Airbus A321neo LR planes for TAP Air Portugal

Aviation Capital Group has confirmed the secured financing of two Airbus A321NEO LR aircraft for TAP Air Portugal.


This financing marks the fifth use by ACG’s Aircraft Financing Solutions (“AFS”) program of its $650 million secured funding facility. This allowed ACG to provide a senior secured loan to TAP and to partner with Novus Aviation Capital (“Novus”), which provided complementary mezzanine financing. Together, ACG and Novus were able to offer TAP an attractive and comprehensive financing solution.


“ACG is grateful to have had the opportunity to work with TAP and Novus on this financing. We were able to draw upon our established relationship with Novus to effectively meld the senior and junior loans and to provide TAP with timely and efficient financing. Moreover, we were finally able to bring to fruition ACG’s long-held desire to work with TAP again,” said Andrew Falk, Managing Director of ACG.

“We are delighted to complete this transaction with both ACG and TAP, continuing to support an existing airline customer,” said Mamoun Kuzbari, Chief Commercial Officer, Novus Aviation Capital. “Not only are we building on our relationship with this additional financing for TAP, but we are also very proud to have a strong foundation with ACG that will allow both parties to collaborate on future opportunities. This debt structure is an attractive value proposition and the combination of asset type and stakeholders involved makes it appealing for both Novus and Tamweel Aviation Finance, one of the industry’s leading mezzanine loan providers.”

“TAP is very pleased to work with ACG and Novus on this financing and we are very confident that these two additional A321neo LR aircraft that are joining our fleet, already one of the youngest and most efficient in the world, will contribute to the success of our airline,” said Gonçalo Pires, Chief Financial Officer of TAP Air Portugal.











19 May, 2021

Two court victories for Ryanair over state aid to European carriers.

The Irish budget carrier Ryanair has won two court victories, news agency Reuters is reporting in the low-fare-high-fee airline's battle against state aid to rivals airlines in Europe. 

The Luxembourg-based General Court has annulled the support given to Amsterdam based KLM and Portugal's Transportes Aereos Portugueses - TAP saying regulators failed to justify the huge cash injections given to the national carriers at the height of the global pandemic. However, the court said the annulments - and the recovery of the money - would be suspended pending new decisions by the Commission.

The court advised "The General Court annuls the Commission's decision to approve the Netherlands financial aid for the airline KLM amid the COVID-19 pandemic on the grounds of inadequate reasoning," They also rejected the EU executive's clearance of state support for TAP saying "an inadequate statement of reasons".

Previously, the EU cleared a €3.4-billion/ $4.15 billion Dutch government bailout for struggling airline KLM and a €1.2 billion rescue package for TAP

09 August, 2020

TAP Air Portugal starts again from Munich to the Portuguese capital twice daily

TAP Air Portugal starts again from Munich to the Portuguese capital twice daily


Just in time for summer vacation in Bavaria, TAP Air Portugal is resuming its flights from Munich: The Portuguese airline will bring vacationers and business travellers twice a day from the Munich Airport to Lisbon. The Portuguese capital belongs to the top 20 travel destinations in Europe for Germans and is the ideal starting point to get to know the country.

TAP passengers will also benefit from the fact that the Humberto Delgado Airport functions as a hub and offers many attractive connections to North and South America, the Azores, and Africa. With its A330-900neo aircraft, the airline has one of the most modern and environmentally friendly long-haul fleets in Europe.












04 August, 2020

TAP Air Portugal's focus on combating Coronavirus COVID19

Transporting passengers safely has always been the priority at TAP Air Portugal,  however, in these current times of Coronavirus,  the airline has been even more safety conscious.

Here the carrier talks of the new processes it has put in place to protect both crews and passengers:

Since the emergence of the Covid-19 outbreak, it has become clear to the entire team that nothing is more critical than the health and safety of our workers and all of our Clients. That is why it is important to update and share all the work done and the measures that we have been implementing, in line with the EASA, IATA, DGS and UCS, to ensure your health and safety when travelling with us.

Today our focus is on uniting everyone's efforts to combat COVID 19 and, at the same time, ensure that air travel remains safe. Together we managed to regain confidence in travelling. This is our commitment.






23 June, 2020

TAP confident EU will approve restructuring plan

Photo TAP
Portugal’s flag carrier TAP is confident the European Commission will approve a restructuring plan that would allow the airline to avoid repaying a government-backed loan, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

In April, TAP asked for help as the company, which usually operates around 2,500 flights per week, was forced to suspend almost all of them as demand for travel collapsed in the coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier this month, the European Commission approved Portugal’s plan for a 1.2 billion euro ($1.4 billion) rescue loan for TAP.

Rescue aid can be granted for a maximum of six months and authorities have committed that TAP will reimburse the loan or submit a restructuring plan in that time.

27 May, 2020

Portugal is “Clean & Safe” says the tourist board and no quarantine for visitors.

The tourist authority of Portugal is setting up a new programme to advise tourists that the country is clear and safe as it opens up and starts to kick start the recovery as summer dawns.

At the same time, the foreign minister has confirmed that mainland Portugal will not impose a quarantine on visitors arriving by air this summer.

“Clean & Safe”  Turismo de Portugal has created a stamp of approval to distinguish tourist activities which are compliant with hygiene and cleaning requirements for the prevention and control of COVID-19 and other possible infections, thus reinforcing the tourist’s confidence in the safety of the destination.

This validation is free and optional and is valid for one year. It requires the implementation of an internal protocol for companies that, according to the recommendations of the DGS – Directorate-General for Health (similar to the Department of Health and Social Care in the UK), ensures the necessary hygiene measures are in place to avoid risks of contagion and a guarantee of safe procedures for the operation of tourist activities.

18 April, 2020

Special TAP Air Portugal flights bring home 3,500 Portuguese citizens

Photo TAP
Last month TAP Air Portugal Airline put on 12 special extraordinary flights to Africa to bring home Portuguese citizens and transport medical and humanitarian cargo.

The carrier managed to repatriate around 3,500 Portuguese citizens whilst at the same time took medical and humanitarian cargo to various destinations, including Angola, São Tomé, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and Mozambique.

Photo TAP
The first of TAP’s special flights took off on Tuesday 24 March for Luanda, in Angola, and Praia and Sal, in Cape Verde. The operation continued with a flight to Bissau on Wednesday 25 March, a flight to São Tomé on Thursday 26 March, and four flights on Friday: two from Luanda, one from Bissau and one from the Praia. The airline carried out a night flight from Luanda to Lisbon on Saturday 28 March. Whilst the special operation came to a conclusion with two return flights to the capital of Mozambique by a 298-seat Airbus A330neo on Sunday 29 March. 



10 November, 2019

Banjul, the Capital of The Gambia becomes another new destination for TAP

The national carrier of Portugal, TAP has now started flying to Banjul, capital of The Gambia, introducing a regular service operating up to three times a week from its Lisbon hub.

Flights between Lisbon and Banjul will use Airbus A320 aircraft, departing from Lisbon at 8:55 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arriving in Banjul at 12:10 a.m. the next day. The flights will then leave Banjul at 1:05 a.m. (on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays), landing at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado airport at 6:05 a.m. (all times local).

The beach, nature and adventure supply classic Banjul imagery, giving this African city a true artist’s palette of colours: markets full of life and colour contrast with the beaches’ white sand and the lush natural green that characterises Banjul. On a cruise along the Gambia River, which crosses the country, hippos, monkeys and more than 500 bird species may be observed.   

06 November, 2019

Sabre and TAP Air Portugal extend partnership with new private channel deal

Leading travel technology provider, Sabre Corporation confirmed this week that it had renewed its long-term distribution agreement with Portugal's leading airline, TAP Air Portugal.

Sabre's partnership with TAP Air Portugal will provide participating agencies with access to improved content, in line with the company's commitment to delivering next-generation retailing, distribution and fulfilment.  Sabre-powered travel agencies who sign up to the TAP Air Portugal private channel starting in January 1, 2020, will enjoy a wider range of content from the airline and can leverage reliable and up-to-date information to create rich, and relevant offers for their customers.

"Both Sabre and TAP Air Portugal are dedicated to providing travellers the best content available," said Alessandro Ciancimino, vice president airline sales, Europe, Sabre. "With this renewed agreement, Sabre-connected agents will enjoy optimal choice and control over the products they purchase with the airline and, through our new private channel agreement, will be able to create enhanced experiences for travellers."

06 July, 2019

New Porto-Brussels route for TAP Air Portugal

The Belgian capital is the first of three new cities that are going to have direct connections from Porto this year. Flights to Lyon and Munich are set to begin on September 1st.

TAP began direct flights from Porto to Brussels earlier this week, there will be two flights from Porto to the Belgian capital every day, at 7:00 a.m. and 5:35 p.m., arriving in Brussels at 10:30 a.m. and 9:05 p.m. respectively. 

The Porto-Brussels flights are available from as little as €41 one way, including taxes. TAP Miles&Go clients can buy Porto-Brussels flights with just 7,500 miles.

01 June, 2019

TAP Air Portugal's fleet reaches 100 aircraft for first time, and new routes to Chicago, San Francisco & Washington, DC


Photo TAP
TAP Air Portugal just added the 100th aircraft to its fleet, an Airbus A330neo, as the carrier launches a service to Chicago O’Hare, and later this month to San Francisco and Washington, DC.   Also on June 1, TAP will introduce the A321 LR to its US operations, flying between Newark and Porto.

A fleet of 100 is a record for the 74-year-old airline.   In all, TAP has 71 new aircraft being delivered through 2025, including 21 A330neos, 19 A320neos, 17 A321neos, and 14 A321 Long Range jets.  TAP is the launch airline for the A330neo aircraft and is currently the only airline in the world to operate all of Airbus' latest generation NEO aircraft. 

TAP will make the first transatlantic commercial flight with an Airbus A321 Long Range, on June 1, departing from Porto for Newark Liberty International.  This will be the first time a narrow body family aircraft, which routinely operates mid-range routes, makes a longer range route. The innovative features of this aircraft allow it to fly over the Atlantic, offering passengers the premium comfort of a long-haul plane.

05 February, 2019

TAP had a record 2018 as passenger numbers soar to 15.8 million.

TAP Air Portugal had a record-breaking 2018 the carrier has revealed in its latest figures, carrying more than 15 million people last year.

A total of 15.8 million people flew with the growing carrier last year, which is 1.5 million more than travelled with the carrier in 2017. An impressive growth rate of 10.4%  well above the growth rate of most of its European contemporaries.

TAP's North American routes grew 9.6%, carrying an additional 70,000 passengers year over year, for a total of 800,000 on the routes.  In June this year, TAP is tripling service between Newark and Porto and adding service to Lisbon from three new US markets: Chicago, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

TAP’s European routes (excluding Portugal), carried 932,000 passengers more than in 2017, for 10.7 %, to a total of almost 10 million people flying on the routes.

On flights between Lisbon, Porto and Faro, TAP transported -- for the first time -- more than one million passengers, reaching a record 1.1 million, representing a growth of 9.4 % over the previous year.

24 January, 2019

TAP Air Portugal triples service between Newark and Porto on new Airbus A321 LR aircraft

TAP Air Portugal will triple its flights between Newark and Porto starting June 1, flying six weekly nonstop round-trips.   Also, the airline is adding new service from Porto to Brussels, Lyon and Munich which means US travellers can now enjoy a stopover of up to five days in Porto, en route to 14 European destinations from Newark.

The airline is growing its North American operations significantly this year, also adding service to Lisbon from Chicago O’Hare, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles, starting June 1, 10 and 16, respectively.

The new EWR-OPO flights will operate every day except Tuesday aboard TAP’s new Airbus A321 Long Range fleet, one of the world’s most modern aircraft, offering the most advanced levels of comfort, efficiency and technology.

18 January, 2019

TAP receives two more A330-900neo aircraft

Last year in December the Portuguese national carrier, TAP became the first airline in the world to offer its clients unbeatable economic features, greater range and efficiency and the new Airspace cabin on its first Airbus A330-900neo.

This article from Jason Shaw was first published on Aerotime.aero here 



17 January, 2019

More flights on offer from Porto says TAP Air Portugal

Photo TAP
TAP Air Portugal's new destinations from Porto are  Brussels, Lyon and Munich are now on sale thr airline confirmed this week.

Flights to the capital of Belgium, beautiful Brussels, begin on 1st July this year with not one, but two daily flights. Departures from Porto are at 0700 and 1735, arriving in Brussels at 1030 and 2105 respectively.

TAP operations to Lyon, France and Munich, Germany, will begin on 1st September 2019. Flights to Lyon will be twice daily: departure from Porto at 0630 and arrival in Lyon at 0935 and departure from Porto at 1830 and arrival in the French city at 2135.

For Munich, TAP operations will begin with a daily flight departing from Porto at 12:15 and arriving in the German city at 1555 p.m.

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