TAP Air Portugal (ICAO: TAP) is the flag carrier airline of Portugal, established on March 14, 1945, as Transportes Aéreos Portugueses. The airline commenced commercial operations on September 19, 1946, with its inaugural flight from Lisbon to Madrid. Throughout its history, TAP has experienced periods of both public and private ownership. Its main operational base and headquarters are located at Lisbon Airport (LIS), which serves as a crucial European gateway connecting various continents, with Porto Airport acting as a secondary hub.
The airline operates a predominantly Airbus fleet, featuring a mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. This includes the A319-100s, A320-200s, A320neos, A321-200s, A321neos, A321LRs, A330-200s, and the modern A330-900neos, for which TAP was the launch customer. Its regional subsidiary, TAP Express, also operates Embraer E190s. TAP's route network encompasses over 100 destinations across more than 30 countries, including domestic flights within Portugal. The airline has a significant focus on connections between Europe, Brazil (where it holds a leading market position), Africa, and North America.
TAP Air Portugal has been a member of the Star Alliance since March 2005. The airline offers several cabin classes, including Executive Class (Business Class) with lie-flat seats on long-haul Airbus A330neo aircraft, EconomyXtra for passengers seeking extra legroom, and standard Economy Class. Notable services include in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi on select aircraft, and a "Portugal Stopover" program allowing travelers to visit Lisbon or Porto for an extended period at no extra airfare.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall, traveler sentiment toward TAP Air Portugal is mixed. While the airline is praised for its convenient direct routes and modern fleet, especially for those visiting Portugal, significant frustrations arise from inconsistent customer service, frequent flight disruptions, and occasional discomfort in economy seating.
TAP Air Portugal has a robust safety record. The airline has been fatality-free for the past 10 years and has not experienced any serious pilot-related incidents during this period. Its only fatal accident occurred on November 19, 1977, involving TAP Flight 425 in Funchal, which remains the airline's sole fatal accident since its inception in 1946. Recent minor incidents reported include hydraulic failure, engine failure, lightning strikes, and smoke in the cockpit, none of which resulted in fatalities.
The airline, along with its subsidiary Portugália Airlines, achieved IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certification in early 2025. This certification, based on the internationally recognized ISO 14001 standard, signifies the implementation of a strong environmental management system to minimize the environmental impact of its global flight operations and corporate facilities. The IEnvA certification, while not a direct safety certification like IOSA, indicates a commitment to high operational standards. TAP's safety rating is reportedly 7 stars, which is the maximum rating, suggesting it has successfully passed major airline audits.
TAP Air Portugal is actively engaged in a fleet renewal and modernization program, continuously replacing older aircraft with more fuel-efficient and modern models, thereby enhancing both operational efficiency and safety. The airline's long-haul fleet, including the A330-900neo, incorporates advanced cabin configurations. Based on the available data, TAP Air Portugal maintains a strong overall safety assessment, characterized by its modern fleet, adherence to international environmental standards, and a clean recent accident record. In 2010, UNESCO recognized TAP Air Portugal with the "Planet Earth" prize for its pioneering carbon-offsetting scheme.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNC → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
371 | 958 mi | A21N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| PDL → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
146 | 901 mi | A21N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| FAO → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
134 | 416 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| FNC → OPO |
Porto / Oporto
Francisco Sa Carneiro Int.
|
118 | 741 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| RAI → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
109 | 1866 mi | A21N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| OPO → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
107 | 172 mi | E190 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BRU → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
102 | 1068 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| GVA → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
97 | 930 mi | A21N | Dec 9, 2025 |
| MUC → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
94 | 1234 mi | A20N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| ZRH → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
92 | 1072 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| MXP → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
89 | 1027 mi | A21N | Dec 9, 2025 |
| LHR → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
88 | 973 mi | A20N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| LAD → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
86 | 3596 mi | A339 | Nov 30, 2025 |
| FCO → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
84 | 1144 mi | A20N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| TER → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
83 | 967 mi | A20N | Dec 10, 2025 |
| ORY → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
81 | 894 mi | A21N | Dec 11, 2025 |
| FRA → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
73 | 1164 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| LIS → ORY |
Paris Orly
Orly (near Paris)
|
72 | 894 mi | A320 | Dec 11, 2025 |
| SID → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
64 | 1738 mi | A21N | Oct 11, 2025 |
| OPO → FNC |
Madeira Int'l (Funchal)
Santa Catarina
|
62 | 741 mi | A320 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| OPO → ORY |
Paris Orly
Orly (near Paris)
|
60 | 746 mi | A319 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| LIS → FNC |
Madeira Int'l (Funchal)
Santa Catarina
|
57 | 600 mi | E190 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| BCN → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
57 | 618 mi | A320 | Dec 4, 2025 |
| LIS → FCO |
Leonardo da Vinci Int'l (Fiumicino Int'l)
Rome
|
53 | 1144 mi | A320 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| CPH → LIS |
General Humberto Delgado Airport
Lisbon
|
40 | 1538 mi | A20N | Nov 30, 2025 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.