<a href="https://www.flytap.com/en-us">TAP Air Portugal</a> officially confirmed its return to Salgado Filho International Airport, serving Porto Alegre, starting on April 1, 2025, flying from Lisbon (LIS).
Tickets are already available for purchase, with promotional fares of USD 649 on TAP&#8217;s official website (flytap.com) and through travel agents.
The announcement comes after <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/12/porto-alegre-airport-fully-reopens-3200-meter-runway-after-april-floods/">the full recovery of Porto Alegre&#8217;s runway</a> following the floods that hit the state of Rio Grande do Sul between April and May.
To date, the return of flights to Panama (Copa Airlines starting December 18), Lima (January 1 with LATAM), Santiago (January 3 with LATAM and June 23 with SKY), and Buenos Aires (with <a href="https://aviacionline.com/2024/12/aerolineas-argentinas-postpones-return-to-porto-alegre-flights/">Aerolíneas Argentinas starting March 3),</a> has been confirmed.
The European airline will operate three weekly flights using A330-900 aircraft, configured with 298 seats, divided into 34 in business class, 96 in premium economy, and 168 in economy class. As it operated before its suspension in April 2024, it will offer 1,788 seats per week.
<ul>
<li>Flight TP 117 LIS 13:05 &#8211; 20:25 POA / Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.</li>
<li>Flight TP 118 POA 21:55 &#8211; 12:45 (+1) LIS / Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.</li>
</ul>
In 2023, TAP transported 77,139 passengers in Porto Alegre with an 83% occupancy rate, according to ANAC Brazil.
<h3>TAP Air Portugal in Brazil</h3>
TAP is the European airline with the largest presence in Brazil, with flights to twelve destinations across fourteen routes.
From the Portuguese capital, it flies to Belém, Belo Horizonte/Confins, Brasilia, Florianópolis, Fortaleza, Maceió, Manaus, Natal, Recife, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, Salvador de Bahia, and São Paulo/Guarulhos. Additionally, from Porto, it flies to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
According to the Cirium platform, TAP operates up to 93 weekly flights with an offer of 24,000 seats per week.

Porto Alegre welcomes back TAP Air Portugal: Lisbon flights return

The government of Portugal approved the purchase of 12 Embraer A-29N Super Tucano aircraft, as part of a €200 million investment aimed at strengthening its advanced training and close air support capabilities. The announcement was made on December 12 following a resolution by the Council of Ministers.
The investment includes not only the aircraft but also a flight simulator, spare parts, and support services. Additionally, the agreement involves the participation of Portuguese aerospace companies, including Embraer&#8217;s facilities in the country through its subsidiary OGMA, although the specifics of local involvement have yet to be detailed.
With this purchase, Portugal becomes the first European customer of the Super Tucano, a light attack and training aircraft that has been in service worldwide since 2003. The A-29N variant was specifically designed to meet NATO interoperability standards, making it a strategic option for European countries seeking versatile and cost-effective aircraft.
The approval follows months of technical and financial negotiations between the Portuguese government and Embraer, which began in July. Embraer has strengthened its presence in Portugal by establishing local support infrastructure for both the A-29 and the C-390 Millennium transport aircraft. The company is also exploring new opportunities in Europe, with reported negotiations ongoing with the Netherlands, although the status of these discussions remains unclear.
Portugal&#8217;s acquisition of the A-29N aligns with NATO&#8217;s interoperability focus and enhances the country&#8217;s ability to train pilots and conduct close air support missions. The involvement of the local industry is expected to boost the national aerospace sector, though specific details about manufacturing roles are still pending.
As of the time of publication, Embraer has not issued an official statement regarding the agreement.

Portugal Approves €200M Deal for 12 Embraer A-29N Super Tucano Aircraft

The Portuguese airline EuroAtlantic Airways is reportedly in contact with Brazil&#8217;s civil aviation regulatory authority, the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), regarding its plans to establish a branch in Brazil to operate regular domestic passenger flights, a source indicates.
According to information accessed by <a href="https://aeroin.net/empresa-aerea-portuguesa-se-prepara-para-abrir-uma-filial-para-voos-domesticos-no-brasil/">AEROIN</a> from a source familiar with the matter, the company, widely known for operating non-scheduled (charter) flights, is reportedly studying the Brazilian domestic market to establish its branch as a regular air operator.
<h4>Regular flights</h4>
As part of this project, the airline is even preparing to launch flights between the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, and one of Brazil&#8217;s busiest airports to evaluate the potential of its future operations in the South American country.
EuroAtlantic currently operates a fleet of four aircraft: two Boeing 767-300ERs with registrations CS-TST and CS-TSU, and two Boeing 777-200ERs with registrations CS-TSW and CS-TSX, as well as another 767-300ER, registration CS-TSV, which is in storage.

EuroAtlantic Airways Explores Brazilian Market with Domestic Flight Plans

<a href="https://www.flytap.com/en-us/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA9bq6BhAKEiwAH6bqoIxcGU6t3X6Wibdtsax3ZL9bKCuHbeKTBxoXwfrYw3lC_k-AsTWZERoCjAoQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">TAP Air Portugal </a> expands its transatlantic offering with three new seasonal services to the United States for the 2025 Northern Hemisphere summer season. Two of these new routes will be operated from Porto and Terceira. These routes are part of the Portugal Stopover program, which allows travelers to enjoy up to ten days in Portugal or any TAP European destination, without paying additional airfare.
<h4>Porto-Boston</h4>
From May 14 to October 25, 2025, TAP Air Portugal will fly between Boston and Porto with four weekly flights on the 171-seat Airbus A321LR. This is the airline&#8217;s second route from Logan International Airport, complementing its service to Lisbon. Additionally, on this segment, TAP competes with Azores Airlines, which also operates with single-aisle aircraft.
<h4>Flight schedule between Porto (OPO) and Boston (BOS)</h4>
<ul>
<li>Flight TP 227: OPO 18:05 &#8211; BOS 20:30 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.</li>
<li>Flight TP 228: BOS 23:00 &#8211; OPO 10:35+1 Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.</li>
</ul>
From Porto, the Portuguese airline offers transatlantic services to New York/Newark, São Paulo-Guarulhos, and Rio de Janeiro.
<h4>Lisbon-Los Angeles</h4>
From May 16 to October 25, 2025, TAP Air Portugal will have a nonstop connection between Lisbon and Los Angeles with four weekly flights on the 298-seat Airbus A330-900neo. This is the airline&#8217;s second route on the west coast of the United States, and no other airline operates on this segment.
<h4>Flight schedule between Lisbon (LIS) and Los Angeles (LAX)</h4>
<ul>
<li>Flight TP 247: LIS 09:55 &#8211; LAX 14:40 Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.</li>
<li>Flight TP 248: LAX 16:40 &#8211; LIS 12:00+1 Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.</li>
</ul>
Los Angeles is TAP&#8217;s eighth destination in the United States, complementing Boston, Chicago O&#8217;Hare, New York-JFK, Newark, Washington-Dulles, Miami, and San Francisco.
<h4>Terceira-San Francisco</h4>
From June 3 to August 26, 2025, TAP Air Portugal will have flights between Terceira and San Francisco with a weekly frequency on the 298-seat Airbus A330-900neo. In this segment, it competes with Azores Airlines.
<h4>Flight schedule between Terceira (TER) and San Francisco (SFO) 
</h4>
<ul>
<li>Flight TP 241: TER 13:00 &#8211; SFO 16:45 Thursday.</li>
<li>Flight TP 240: SFO 18:45 &#8211; TER 11:45+1 Thursday.</li>
</ul>

TAP Air Portugal Adds Direct Flights Between Porto, Lisbon, and Major U.S. Cities

euroAtlantic Airways announced the acquisition of two Boeing 777-200ER to strengthen its ACMI leasing business (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) in response to increasing demand for these short-term agreements.
The CEO of <a href="https://www.euroatlantic.pt/es/quem-somos/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">euroAtlantic Airways</a>, Stewart Higginson, said, «We are very pleased to permanently add these two Boeing 777s to our fleet. These three-class, long-range, high cargo capacity Boeings are renowned for their reliability and exceptional passenger comfort, making them the ideal choice for us.»
«We have been operating these two aircraft for over a year, and we want to thank our partners involved in this agreement. This move ensures that we are well-positioned to meet the growing demand for air transport while maintaining our focus on sustainability, sustainable development, and operational excellence.», he added.
The airline operates a fleet of six aircraft, three 777-200ER and three 767-300, so with the purchase of the two additional 777-200ER, it will ensure current capacity on key international routes.
euroAtlantic is a partner for airlines, companies, and governments worldwide, providing flexible aviation services for passenger flights and specialized missions. The Portuguese company thus continues to expand its global presence.
«For over 30 years, our mission has always been to offer exceptional aviation solutions, building long-lasting relationships with our customers and ensuring every flight is safe and efficient. Our international recognition reflects the trust our clients place in us and the quality of service we deliver in every operation,» concluded Higginson.

ACMI Growth: euroAtlantic Airways Adds Two Boeing 777-200ER to Its Fleet

<a href="https://aviacionline.com/tag/binter-canarias/">Binter Canarias</a> has added two new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft to its fleet, which will enhance the operator&#8217;s presence in continental Europe and Africa. The aircraft, registered as EC-OJJ «Vigo» and EC-OJI «Baleares,» arrived in the Canary Islands during the last week of October and immediately began operating their scheduled flights.
Both aircraft departed from São José dos Campos (SJK), Embraer&#8217;s main factory, and made a stop in Recife (REC) before arriving in Gran Canaria (LPA).
Binter has expanded its fleet to twelve Embraer E2 aircraft since receiving its first in December 2019, making it the airline&#8217;s main asset for flights to continental Europe and Africa, progressively replacing ATR aircraft.
Currently, the airline operates 28 ATR 72-600, with 70 seats, and 12 Embraer, configured for 132 passengers. According to the Cirium platform, it is set to receive four additional E2 aircraft.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-345199 aligncenter" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Binter-E2.jpeg" alt="" width="1280" height="853" srcset="https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Binter-E2.jpeg 1280w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Binter-E2-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Binter-E2-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://aviacionlinecdn.eleco.com.ar/media/2024/11/Binter-E2-150x100.jpeg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />
<h4>Binter Canarias Destination Network</h4>
Binter Canarias serves 30 destinations across the Canary Islands, continental Europe, and Africa, with its main bases in Gran Canaria (LPA) and Tenerife/North (TFN), and secondary hubs in Madrid (MAD) and Lanzarote (ACE).
According to Cirium, Binter is the leading inter-island airline in the Canary Islands, holding a 48% market share and operating up to 250 flights per day during the summer season. The airline connects the eight main airports of the archipelago: Fuerteventura (FUE), Hierro (VDE), Gran Canaria, Lanzarote (ACE), La Gomera (GMZ), Santa Cruz de la Palma (SPC), Tenerife/North, and Tenerife/South (TFS).
It also connects 22 other destinations in its network:
<ul>
<li>Spain: A Coruña (LCG), Asturias (OVD), Granada (GRX), Jerez de la Frontera (XRY), Madrid (MAD), Murcia (RMU), Palma de Mallorca (PMI), Pamplona (PNA), San Sebastián (EAS), Santander (SDR), Valladolid (VLL), Vigo (VGO), and Zaragoza (ZAZ). During the summer season, Ibiza and Menorca are added.</li>
<li>Portugal: Funchal (FNC) and Porto Santo (PXO). During the summer season, Ponta Delgada (PDL) is added.</li>
<li>Africa: Dakar (Senegal), Nouakchott (Mauritania), Sal Island (Cape Verde); Agadir, Laayoune, Guelmim, and Marrakech (Morocco). During the summer season, Essaouira and Tangier are added.</li>
</ul>
As of now, it is unclear what will happen with Lille (France), Florence, and Venice (Italy) in 2025, as these destinations were suspended in the last week of October. Lille and Venice face competition from Wizz Air and Volotea, but from Tenerife.

Binter Canarias Expands Fleet with Two New Embraer E195-E2 Jets

TAP initiated legal action in the Lisbon Civil Court against Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras and Bondholders, a company based in Valencia, Spain, in response to a conflict over a €90 million bond loan claimed by the Brazilian company.
This conflict, dating back to 2016, revolves around a request from Azul for TAP to repay the loan ahead of schedule, originally set for 2026, according to reports from the Expresso newspaper and published by <a href="https://aeroin.net/tap-contra-ataca-e-entra-na-justica-contra-a-azul-sobre-emprestimo-de-90-milhoes-de-euros/">Aeroin</a>.
<h4>Early repayment</h4>
The loan was granted by Azul to TAP when David Neeleman was the main shareholder of the Portuguese company. Facing financial difficulties, Azul requested in September of this year that TAP repay the loan ahead of schedule, which over time could amount to nearly €200 million. TAP denied the request, adhering to the original terms of the contract.
The Finance Minister had previously indicated that the disagreement over the loan might ultimately be resolved in court. The situation escalated when Azul threatened to break the commercial partnership the two companies maintain in Brazil and turned to the contract’s trustee to seek a resolution to the conflict.
<h4>To court</h4>
In a counterattack strategy, TAP decided to take the matter to court, aiming to protect its interests and maintain the agreement until the originally scheduled maturity date. The decision to initiate legal proceedings reflects TAP&#8216;s determination to defend its contractual position against the financial difficulties faced by Azul.
This lawsuit highlights the complexity of commercial relationships in the aviation sector, particularly when they involve international partnerships and significant financial stakes. The next steps will depend on judicial decisions that could shape the outcome of this financial impasse between the two airlines.

Azul vs. TAP: Legal Battle Over €90M Loan Escalates

<div>TAP Air Portugal resumes its service between Lisbon and Manaus with three weekly flights (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) starting November 4. With the resumption of this route, after eight years, the Portuguese airline will fly to 13 destinations and will have a network of 15 routes in Brazil (13 to Lisbon and two to Porto).</div>
<div></div>
<div>Tickets for the new route are already available from the company&#8217;s website and regular channels, promotional fares for round-trip flights are from €599.</div>
<div></div>
<div>«Brazil is strategic for TAP and the return of our flight to Manaus is another sign that we will continue to invest in the development of our operations in that country. We recently launched a new route to Florianópolis and will end this year with at least 15 routes to Brazil, record numbers for the airline in our sister country,» said Luís Rodrigues, CEO of TAP.</div>
<div></div>
<div>«Our goal is to bring more and more tourists to Brazil, not only from Portugal, but from all over the world to which TAP flies, and to offer more than 60 destinations in Europe and Africa, to which Brazilians can also fly via Lisbon and Porto. We want to continue to be the leading international airline in Brazil«, added Rodrigues.</div>
<div></div>
<div>During the summer season, despite the temporary suspension of services to Porto Alegre as a result of the floods, TAP provides 95 weekly flights to Brazil, an average of 13 daily flights and 13 destinations. According to data compiled by Brazil&#8217;s National Civil Aviation Agency, TAP Air Portugal mobilized 1,921,951 passengers in 2019.</div>
<div></div>
<div>TAP Air Portugal has nonstop services from Lisbon to São Paulo/Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro/Galeão, Belém, Belo Horizonte, Brasília, Fortaleza, Natal, Maceió, Porto Alegre, Recife, Salvador, Florianópolis and Manaus, in addition to connecting Porto with São Paulo/Guarulhos and Rio de Janeiro/Galeão.</div>
<div></div>
<div>See also: <a style="color: #ff9900;" href="http://aviacionline.com2024/06/tap-air-portugal-expands-brazilian-network-with-florianopolis/">Icelandair schedules flights to Lisbon, deepening cooperation with TAP Air Portugal</a></div>

After eight years, TAP Air Portugal resumes its flights to Manaus

<div>Azores Airlines startet this week its transatlantic services from Porto with flights to the United States and Canada. The airline also connects Ponta Delgada, Terceira and Madeira with North America.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The airline will be flying from Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport to New York JFK, Boston and Toronto, the services are operated by EUROATLANTIC Airways Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which also operate the Madeira to North America routes.</div>
<div></div>
<div>Azores Airlines is the sixth airline to offer transatlantic flights at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport complementing the operation of Air Transat, TAP Air Portugal, United Airlines, Iberojet and World2fly.</div>
<div></div>
<div>
<div>«This direct air operation reinforces the offer of flights departing from Porto and North America, destinations to which Azores Airlines has been flying for more than two decades and where it has grown steadily. We believe that the city of Porto and the entire Northern Region have uniquely attractive arguments for the tourist segment, but equally important for the business and friends and family segments,» said Graça Silva, Sales, Marketing and Communication Director of the SATA Group.</div>
<div></div>
<div>The Porto-Boston route, is the only service where Azores Airlines has no competition. On flights to the New York metropolitan area it competes with the daily operation of TAP Air Portugal on Airbus A321LR and the two daily flights of United Airlines on Boeing 757-200, both airlines serving Newark. On the other hand, at Toronto-Person, it competes with Air Transat, which offers four weekly flights.</div>
<div></div>
<h3>Flight schedule</h3>
<ul>
<li>Porto &#8211; New York JFK: Thursdays, in the opposite direction on Sundays.</li>
<li>Porto &#8211; Boston: Tuesday, in the opposite direction on Wednesdays.</li>
<li>Porto &#8211; Toronto: Fridays, in the opposite direction on Saturdays.</li>
</ul>
<div>In addition to services to and from Porto, Azores Airlines continues its schedule of 24 weekly flights from the Azores archipelago (Ponta Delgada and Terceira) to Boston, New York, Toronto-Pearson, Montreal and Cape Verde (Praia).</div>
<div></div>
<div>In addition to these options, it is also possible to use StopOver Azores, a program that allows you to stay in the Azores for seven days.</div>
</div>
<div></div>
<div>See also: <a style="color: #ffcc00;" href="http://aviacionline.com2024/06/azores-airlines-started-flying-two-new-routes-from-madeira-to-the-united-states-and-canada/">Azores Airlines started flying two new routes from Madeira to the United States and Canada.</a></div>

Azores Airlines starts transatlantic flights from Porto

Azores Airlines started two new transatlantic services: Funchal-Toronto and Funchal-Boston. With the start of these non-stop connections, the air connectivity between the archipelago of Madeira and North America is enhanced.
This marks the start of the 2024 summer operation to Madeira Island: in addition to these non-stop flights, a route to Ponta Delgada is also scheduled and maintains the weekly frequency between Madeira Island and New York, which was also operated in the 2023 summer season.
Azores Airlines also operates from Ponta Delgada, Terceira, and Porto to Boston and Toronto-Pearson, and is also the only airline offering transatlantic services to Madeira Island.
«These two direct operations represent the culmination of constant work, in line with our partners in the United States, Canada and the Madeira Archipelago, which have allowed us to expand the offer to this Archipelago again with these direct flights, which are in addition to the New York operation and flights between the Azores and Madeira Island. that Azores Airlines has ensured over the years,» said Graça Silva, Sales, Marketing and Communication Director of the SATA Group.
The non-stop connection between Canada and the Madeira archipelago is scheduled on a weekly frequency, with departures from Funchal on Fridays. In the opposite direction, flights depart from Toronto on Saturdays. The direct operation between Boston and Funchal has a weekly flight, departing from Logan International Airport on Tuesdays, and in the opposite direction departing from Funchal on Wednesdays.
In addition to these non-stop services, seven weekly flights from Boston or Toronto via Ponta Delgada are also available for passengers wishing to travel between North America and Madeira. Reservations can be made through the different channels of SATA Azores Airlines (Contact Center, website, counters and sales offices) as well as through physical and online travel agencies.

Azores Airlines started flying two new routes from Madeira to the United States and Canada.

TAP Air Portugal officially confirmed this Friday the launch of a new route to Brazil: the capital of the state of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, in the south of the country. Yesterday, <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2024/06/tap-air-portugal-solicito-volar-desde-lisboa-a-florianopolis-a-partir-de-septiembre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the request</a> had been submitted to Brazilian authorities.
The inaugural flight between Lisbon and Florianópolis is scheduled for September 3rd. TAP will operate three times a week with Airbus A330-200 aircraft with a capacity of 269 passengers: 244 in Economy and 25 in Business, according to our associated media in Brazil, <a href="https://aeroin.net/tap-air-portugal-confirma-oficialmente-o-inicio-de-um-novo-destino-no-brasil/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aeroin</a>.
Flights to Florianópolis will depart from Lisbon on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, between 10:10 and 10:50, arriving in Florianópolis between 17:15 and 17:55. On the return, flights will depart from Florianópolis between 19:35 and 20:40, arriving in Lisbon between 9:50 and 10:55 the following day.
The launch of this new route is considered an important step for the tourism and economic development of Santa Catarina. According to the Deputy Secretary of Tourism of Santa Catarina, Catiane Seif, the arrival of TAP is a sign of prestige and confidence in this new phase for Santa Catarina and will further boost the tourist experience in the state.
Tickets for flights between Florianópolis and Lisbon are already available on the flytap.com website and at travel agencies, with promotional round-trip prices starting at 649 dollars.
TAP plans to maintain its record offer of flights to Brazil during the European summer, despite the suspension of flights to Porto Alegre due to the city&#8217;s flooding. During this period, TAP will offer 95 weekly flights, with an average of more than 13 daily flights connecting Lisbon with Belem, Brasilia, Belo Horizonte-CNF, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro-GIG, Sao Paulo-GRU, Natal, Recife, and Salvador; and Porto with Rio de Janeiro-GIG and Sao Paulo-GRU.
In Latin America, TAP also flies three times a week between Lisbon and Caracas.
<figure id="attachment_246710" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-246710" style="width: 530px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-246710 size-full" src="http://aviacionline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/red-tap-portugal-jnio-2024.gif" alt="" width="540" height="540" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-246710" class="wp-caption-text">TAP Air Portugal&#8217;s network in Latin America &#8211; June 2024 (Porto Alegre is suspended due to flooding)</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;

TAP Air Portugal Expands Brazilian Network with Florianópolis

TAP Air Portugal has undergone major operational adjustments, emerging as the most punctual airline at Lisbon Airport. Under the leadership of the new administrator, Mário Chaves, a comprehensive reorganization has been implemented, resulting in notable improvements in operational efficiency, particularly punctuality. Expresso reports that TAP has achieved a punctuality rate of 64% out of 9,972 scrutinized flights.
Since 2022, the government has expressed its intention to reprivatize the company, awaiting the opportune moment in the market to proceed. This restructuring represents a crucial step towards attracting private investors.
Financially, TAP is poised for success, with anticipated revenues exceeding €4 billion and profits nearing €300 million. In 2022, TAP recorded revenues of €65.6 million.
<h4>Related: <a style="color: #ff9900;" href="http://aviacionline.com/2024/03/tap-air-portugal-increases-its-flights-to-brazil-canada-and-the-us-and-adds-new-caracas-funchal-stopover/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TAP Air Portugal to Connect Caracas with Funchal and Increase Flights to Brazil, United States, and Canada</a></h4>
Despite its punctuality achievements, TAP continues to face growth limitations due to slot restrictions at Lisbon Airport. Beyond punctuality improvements, TAP confronts capacity challenges at Humberto Delgado Airport, serving Lisbon. In 2023, the airport accommodated over 33.5 million passengers, earning recognition in 2019 as Europe&#8217;s busiest single-runway terminal.
However, as the city surrounds the terminal, expansion possibilities are restricted. The government has mulled over and repeatedly dismissed the idea of constructing a new airport.
In light of these challenges, TAP is contemplating the acquisition of Airbus A350 aircraft, larger in size and passenger capacity, potentially alleviating operational constraints at the congested airport. Initially, TAP had ordered 12 A350s in the early 2010s. However, in November 2015, this contract was converted into units from the A320neo and A330neo families.
Presently, TAP operates a fleet of 80 Airbus aircraft, consisting of various models, including the A319, A320, A320neo, A321, A321neo, A330-200, and A330-900neo, of which it was the launch customer.

TAP transformation improves punctuality in Lisbon and spurs Airbus A350 reconsideration

Ryanair has unveiled its schedule for the 2024 summer season in Portugal with 14 new routes to cities in Sweden, Italy, Spain and Morocco.
<h3>Ryanair&#8217;s schedule in Portugal for summer 2024</h3>
<ul>
<li>14 new routes (Alicante, Stockholm, Belfast, Budapest, Krakow, Norwich, Marrakech, Rome, Ibiza, Madrid, Pisa, Poznan and Tangier.</li>
<li>A total of 170 routes.</li>
<li>Traffic exceeds 13.5 million passengers per year (+7%).</li>
<li>28 aircraft based (investment of 3 billion dollars).</li>
<li>Maintains 11,500 jobs, 1,000 of them pilots, cabin crew and engineers.</li>
</ul>
The company has accused concessionaire ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal of increasing airport charges by 17% in January 2024, this has caused the closure at its Ponta Delgada base, the withdrawal of a Boeing 737 from its base in Madeira and cuts in scheduling at Faro and Porto.
At Lisbon&#8217;s Humberto Delgado Airport, where capacity is limited, airport charges increased well above inflation. These increases in airport charges by ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal go against the grain of other European airports that have reduced their charges to overcome pre-pandemic levels and encourage growth.
Ryanair claims that these above-inflation increases benefit ANA-Aeroportos de Portugal and VINCI Airports. The airline also demands that the Portuguese government open Montijo airport and break the ANA/VINCI monopoly and bring competition, choice and lower fares to Lisbon.
«Unfortunately, however, ANA&#8217;s increased monopoly fees are forcing airlines like Ryanair to cut regional flights to and from Portugal. It is unacceptable that the Portuguese regulator, ANAC, has accepted ANA monopoly fee increases of up to 17%, well above inflation. This decision will further jeopardize Portugal&#8217;s tourism growth and employment,» said Michael O&#8217;Leary, CEO of Ryanair.
See also: <a style="color: #ffcc00;" href="http://aviacionline.com/2024/01/ryanair-leases-largest-hangar-at-madrid-barajas-airport/">Ryanair Leases Largest Hangar at Madrid-Barajas Airport</a>

Ryanair unveils summer schedule in Portugal with 14 new routes

<a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/11/azores-airlines-took-delivery-of-its-first-a320neo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Azores Airlines</a> conducted its inaugural commercial flight with the new Airbus A320neo. The flight departed from Lisbon International Airport bound for Ponta Delgada, Azores, on January 24th.
The Azores Airlines A320neo boasts a configuration of 168 seats, featuring an interior designed in shades of blue representing the sky and sea of the Azores. The aircraft with registration CS-TSK joined the fleet on November 6, 2023.
The new aircraft has the word «PURE» painted on its fuselage, emphasizing the fleet renewal with more environmentally friendly aircraft. The A320neo allows for a 20% reduction in fuel consumption, a 5% decrease in emissions of gases and noise, lower operating costs, and increased cargo capacity compared to previous generations of aircraft.
Azores Airlines operates a fleet of nine aircraft, consisting of 3 A320ceo, one A320neo, and 5 A321neo. The airline expects to receive its second A320neo in the coming days, registered as CS-TSM and named «NATURAL».

Azores Airlines’ first Airbus A320neo enters into service

Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal have signed a codeshare agreement, the two airlines have announced this Tuesday (5). By doing so, the airlines will be able to strengthen their connectivity through their own hubs, Abu Dhabi and Lisbon respectively.
«This collaboration provides our guests with convenient one-stop access to 26 of TAP’s fantastic leisure and business destinations», stated Arik De, Etihad&#8217;s Chief Revenue Officer, <a href="https://www.etihad.com/en/news/etihad-and-tap-air-portugal-codeshare-opens-up-exciting-new-destinations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in a press release</a>.
«Widening our network reach, allowing more guests to visit Abu Dhabi, is an important part of our strategic growth. It allows us to further reinforce Abu Dhabi’s cultural and economic development, extending a warm welcome to more guests and offering them heightened travel privileges and unforgettable experiences.»
TAP&#8217;s Chief Revenue Officer, Mario Cruz, added that «the codeshare agreement between TAP Air Portugal and Etihad adds diversity and quality to the travelling experience that both companies offer their customers. The destination networks of the two airlines complement each other through this agreement, which is part of TAP&#8217;s growth and expansion strategy. We are very pleased to have reached this partnership with Etihad.»
The airline from Abu Dhabi said, in the press release, that by joining forces with TAP via the Portuguese carrier&#8217;s hub in Lisbon, it will be able to better serve cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, as well as Miami and San Francisco in the United States. While neither of these cities are currently served by Etihad, both São Paulo and San Francisco were connected by the airline between 2014 and 2017.
Additionally, destinations like Dakar, Madeira, Málaga, Marrakech, São Tomé, Seville and Valencia were mentioned as being better connected to Etihad&#8217;s network with the new partnership.
TAP, on the other hand, will benefit from access to Etihad&#8217;s hub in Abu Dhabi. Connections to both carriers will also be available in Frankfurt and London Heathrow.
Earlier this year, Etihad has started nonstop flights between Abu Dhabi and Lisbon. It currently operates four weekly frequencies between the two cities, using its fleet of Boeing 787-9.

Etihad and TAP sign codeshare agreement

Brazil&#8217;s Azul and Dubai&#8217;s Emirates are expected to make a return to Porto, the gateway to northern Portugal, in 2024, according to the head of a local tourism association.
The information was revealed by Luís Pedro Martins, president of Turismo do Porto e Norte de Portugal (Tourism of Porto and Northern Portugal), in an interview to Lusa news agency republished by Newsavia, <a href="https://newsavia.com/norte-de-portugal-aguarda-novos-voos-da-azul-brasil-emirates-dubai-e-azores-airlines-eua-e-canada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Portuguese aviation news website</a>. Both airlines started operating to the city in 2019. Flights, however, were disrupted in the following year by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on international air travel, and have not made a return since.
Speaking about the results of tourism in Northern Portugal in 2023 and his outlook on 2024, Martins says that these new operations &#8212; along with <a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/08/azores-airlines-launches-transatlantic-flights-from-porto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Azores Airlines&#8217; nonstop transatlantic flights from Porto,</a> already announced &#8212; would represent a significant boost to the industry locally.
«This makes us believe that 2024 can be [good], if circumstances do not change, for with the current context we never know, and despite the difficult times the world lives in, tourism in the region will indeed have a good performance».
Azul <a href="https://www.panrotas.com.br/aviacao/novas-rotas/2019/06/azul-inicia-voo-direto-para-porto-veja-detalhes_164972.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">began connecting its hub in Campinas</a> to Porto three times a week in June 2019. Emirates, meanwhile, <a href="https://www.emirates.com/media-centre/emirates-launches-its-new-service-to-porto/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started serving Porto a month later</a>, with four weekly frequencies from its hub in Dubai.
The former catered to the growing demand for travel between Brazil and Portugal. From 2019 to 2022, the population of Brazilians living legally in the European country grew from 151,304 to 239,744, <a href="https://www.correiobraziliense.com.br/mundo/2023/09/5122418-portugal-brasileiros-fazem-populacao-do-pais-voltar-a-crescer.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Portugal&#8217;s migration authority</a>.
Emirates&#8217; flight would be the second connection between Porto and the Middle East, after El Al&#8217;s route to Tel Aviv, currently suspended. Besides the United Arab Emirates, it would be a major connector between Portugal and several other countries, benefitting from the important connectivity of the hub in Dubai.
Beyond the demand to northern regions of the country, Porto&#8217;s Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport also benefits from the capacity constraints in Lisbon Airport, to the south. While airlines may wish to increase operations to and from the Portuguese capital, the lack of slots there may make the nation&#8217;s second largest airport a viable alternative.

Azul and Emirates to return to Porto, says trade association representative

<a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/09/azores-airlines-to-fly-from-madeira-to-boston-and-toronto-next-summer/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Azores Airlines</a> has received its first Airbus A320neo. The aircraft flew from the European manufacturer&#8217;s facilities in Toulouse (TLS) to Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), Lisbon, Portugal.
With the arrival of the new aircraft, the airline is commencing its program to replace the old fleet of Airbus A320ceo. The newly registered aircraft, CS-TSK, will join Azores Airlines&#8217; operational fleet once the certification process by Portuguese authorities is completed.
The A320neo is equipped with CFM LEAP 1A engines and has been named Azores Airlines «PURE.» The baptism of the aircraft refers to the efficiency of the A320neo fleet compared to the previous generation, reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 20%.
The airline, owned by the SATA Group, operates a fleet of nine aircraft, including three Airbus A320ceo, five A321neo, and the recently arrived A320neo. Based at Ponta Delgada João Paulo II Airport (PDL), the company flies to Canada, the United States, Portugal, Cape Verde, France, and Spain.

Azores Airlines took delivery of its first A320neo

With three more flights as of December 16th, Ceará will have ten weekly connections with Lisbon. The increase made by TAP Air Portugal, the company that operates the route, aims to meet the demand of Europeans visiting the State.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/10/aeromexico-to-increase-flights-to-buenos-aires/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See also: Aeromexico to increase flights to Buenos Aires.</a>
Currently, Ceará already has daily flights departing from Fortaleza International Airport. According to the Secretary of Tourism of Ceará, Yrwana Albuquerque, the increase in flights by the company will be important to expand the presence of tourists from Europe.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/10/latam-to-increase-flights-between-lima-and-antofagasta/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See also: LATAM to increase flights between Lima and Antofagasta.</a>
«We have excellent demand from European tourists, and Lisbon stands out as a gateway to the continent. The excellent flight occupancy rates and the work that Setur-CE has been doing were very important for this action by the company», he highlighted.
Carlos Antunes, TAP&#8217;s director for the Americas, emphasizes that the increase in flights is part of the airline&#8217;s strategy to strengthen connectivity between the Brazilian Northeast. «During the festive period, demand increases and, in this sense, we decided to strategically increase our frequencies in some locations to meet passenger demand,» highlights.
<a href="http://aviacionline.com/2023/10/aerolineas-argentinas-to-increase-flights-between-mendoza-and-santiago/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See also: Aerolíneas Argentinas to increase flights between Mendoza and Santiago de Chile.</a>

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