TAP Portugal

TAP Portugal
IATA ICAO Callsign
TP TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Founded 14 March 1945
Commenced operations 19 September 1946
Hubs Lisbon Portela Airport
Secondary hubs Porto Airport
Focus cities Madeira Airport
Frequent-flyer program TAP Victoria
Airport lounge TAP premium lounge
Blue Lounge
Alliance Star Alliance
Subsidiaries Portugália
Fleet size 77 (including subsidiaries)
Destinations 88
Company slogan With Arms Wide Open
Parent company Atlantic Gateway (joint venture between Azul Brazilian Airlines and Barraqueiro Group) (61%)
Headquarters Lisbon, Portugal
Key people Fernando Pinto, CEO
Revenue Increase € 2,489 billion (2014)[1]
Profit Decrease € 46,4 million (2014)[1]
Website flytap.com

TAP Portugal is the flag carrier airline of Portugal headquartered at Lisbon Portela Airport which also serves as its hub. TAP is a member of the Star Alliance and operates almost 2,000 flights a week to 88 destinations in 38 countries worldwide. The airline is majority-owned by Atlantic Gateway Consortium, led by David Neeleman, owner of Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras, and Humberto Pedrosa. Atlantic Gateway Consortium purchased 61 percent of the carrier from the government of Portugal on 24 June 2015, with an option to buy the Portuguese government's remaining 34 percent stake in 2018 (the remaining stake is held by TAP employees).

History

Early postwar operations

Douglas DC-4 of TAP arriving at London Heathrow Airport from Lisbon in 1954

The airline was as Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, SGPS, S.A. (Portuguese Air Transportations) founded on 14 March 1945 and began commercial services on 19 September 1946, from Lisbon to Madrid with a Douglas DC-3 under the name Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP). On 31 December, TAP began its Linha Aérea Imperial, a twelve-stop colonial service including Luanda, Angola and Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique.

In 1947, domestic services commenced from Lisbon to Porto as well as from São Tomé to London. Four Douglas DC-4 Skymasters were purchased in 1947, remaining in service until 1960. These were used on the routes to Africa and to major European destinations including London. TAP began service to Tangier and Casablanca in 1949. In 1953, the airline became a private company.

Lockheed Super Constellation four-engined pressurised airliners were acquired in late 1955 and were immediately introduced on the TAP African scheduled services to Luanda and Lourenço Marques.[2]

Three Sud Aviation Caravelle twin-jet airliners were acquired in July 1962 and were operated on the airline's more competitive European routes.[3]

The jet era - the mid 1960s onwards

Sud Aviation Caravelle VIR of TAP at London Heathrow Airport in 1966
Rossio Square, Lisbon, in June 1968, showing a TAP commercial in the background at night
Boeing 747-200 at Faro Airport in 1985
A TAP Air Portugal L-1011-500 at Lisbon Portela Airport in 1988.

The one-millionth passenger flew on TAP on 19 June 1964, 18 years after the airline began operations. In 1969, service to New York via Santa Maria Island began. Boston was added to the New York service in 1970. In 1975, TAP was nationalised, becoming a state-owned corporation (Empresa Pública) and changing its name to TAP Air Portugal in March 1979.

TAP dropped its original name, Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, in 1979 when the company officially changed its name to TAP Air Portugal.

TAP purchased Boeing 747s during the 1970s, replacing their Boeing 707s; but they were eventually sold due to lack of demand. They were replaced by Lockheed TriStars and Airbus A310s on long-haul routes. In 1985 TAP established its charter subsidiary Air Atlantis. By the late 1990s, TAP had expanded its fleet by selling its older Boeing 727s and Boeing 737s, and had replaced them with Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. The TriStars were sold to Air Luxor and were replaced by Airbus A340s giving TAP an Airbus-only fleet.

In 1989, TAP became a publicly traded company (Sociedade Anónima) and their New York service moved to Newark Liberty International Airport instead of JFK and in 1991 introduce the service to Berlin. In 1993, TAP began flying to Tel Aviv. In 1994, TAP signed for a code sharing arrangement with Delta Air Lines for North Atlantic service. This agreement ended in 2005.

1996 saw the introduction of service to Boston via Terceira Island, the inauguration of service to Macau and the launch of TAP's Website. In 1997, service began to Punta Cana and Bangkok. Flights to Bangkok and Macau were discontinued in 1998.

TAP is a member of the Star Alliance since 14 March 2005, the same day on which the company celebrated its 60th anniversary. TAP Air Portugal was re-branded as TAP Portugal in February 2005, employing 9,750 staff. TAP also ended its code-sharing agreement with Delta Air Lines and began a new agreement with United Airlines, as part of its membership in the Star Alliance. Under this agreement United's code (UA) is placed on TAP Portugal's transatlantic flights and some African flights, and TAP Portugal's code (TP) is placed on United flights.

In 2006, TAP Portugal signed a deal with Espírito Santo International for the acquisition of 99.81% of the Portuguese regional airline Portugália. Furthermore, it started a code-sharing agreement with US Airways on all routes between Portugal and the United States with connecting services out of Newark and Philadelphia.

In 2007 TAP Portugal was awarded by NATO as the Best Engine/Aircraft Source of Repair for the NATO AWACS Maintenance Program and has been distinguished with the highest maintenance and overhaul practice awards from Airbus Industries in 1996, 2000, 2003, and 2005, being certified for full aircraft, engine and component maintenance and overhaul by the FAA, EASA, and several other important certification entities and aircraft manufacturers (Airbus, Boeing and Embraer).[4] TAP Portugal has complete maintenance and overhaul bases in Portugal (Lisbon) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre), and has specialized line maintenance stations in three continents: 4 in Portugal, 8 in Brazil, and 1 in Angola.[5] It started scheduled flights to Moscow, Warsaw and Helsinki, in June 2009.[6]

After taking a decision to outsource its Passenger Service System in 2008, TAP migrated its reservation and inventory systems to the Altéa system managed by Amadeus. Prior to the migration to Altéa TAP was using a system derived from Delta Air Lines called Tapmatic and had been in use since 1972.

Development since 2010 and privatization

Tap Portugal A321 in Zurich, Switzerland

As of 2010 TAP Portugal has introduced new routes to Africa, Marrakesh & Algiers. The launch of these new routes highlights TAP's reinforcement of its growth strategy for Africa, which is the only segment in the network where the airline has continually expanded since 2001, going from 236,000 passengers to 541,000 passengers, an increase of more than 129%. With a 6.4% rise in 2009. Miami and Porto Alegre are the latest long range routes that have been announced in 2011.

In 2010 TAP Portugal was awarded the "World's Best Airline Award" by British Condé Nast Travel magazine, after being rated for its excellence in previous years,[7] and was rated as the "Best Airline to South America" by the World Travel Awards in 2009 and 2010, with nominations for "Europe's Leading Airline" and "Europe's Leading Business Class" in 2007, 2009 and 2010.[8] TAP Portugal has also consistently achieved high ranks and various awards from specialized air travel publications such as Skytrax and Publituris due to the company's excellence in service and performance.[9] In recent years, TAP Portugal has been consecutively elected World’s Leading Airline to Africa and to South America by the World Travel Awards (WTA), considered the "Oscars" of the world travel industry.[10]

Beginning on 28 February 2011 TAP began airing its "TAP With Arms Wide Open" (TAP de Braços Abertos) campaign, featuring its new slogan. Three singers, the Brazilian singer Roberta de Sá, the Portuguese singer Mariza, and the Angolan singer Paulo Flores starred in a music video with the song "Arms Wide Open."[11][12] The music video featured TAP employees.[11][13] The inclusion of the three singers was intended to highlight the proximity between peoples in the Lusophone countries.[11][12]

In order to obtain its three-year national bailout, Portugal was forced to sell its interests in several companies, including the state-run airline.[14] Several international operators were drawn by the airline’s strategic position, but on 18 October 2012, the Portuguese government announced a sole potential bidder for the privatized national carrier: the South American consortium Synergy Aerospace, owner of Colombian airline Avianca.[14] Portuguese financial daily Dinheiro Vivo indicated that the government would suspend privatization negotiations, if German Efromovich's Synergy Aeropsace bid was not approved.[14][15]

On 21 March 2014 the airline announced that it would buy two ATR 42-600 for its subsidiary company Portugália replacing the smaller Beechcraft 1900D previously operated by PGA Express.[16][17] However, they are now operated by White Airways on behalf of TAP Portugal[18] leaving PGA Express without operations.

The Portuguese Government still plans to sell its controlling stake in the flag carrier to one or more large investors in a relaunch of the privatization.[19] It intends to sell a 66 percent stake in the airline, with 5 percent of that set aside for its 7,500 staff.[20] Among known bidders are South American businessman German Efromovich, owner of the Colombian carrier Avianca, whose 2012 bid for TAP failed to meet the initial conditions,[21] a consortium formed by American businessman Frank Lorenzo and Portuguese entrepreneur Miguel Pais do Amaral, American Brazilian businessman David Neeleman founder of JetBlue in the United States and Azul in Brazil and finally, Globalia, the parent company of Air Europa.[22]

In May 2015, an over a week-long pilot strike led to the cancellation of around 3,000 TAP Portugal flights.[23]

In June 2015, the Portuguese Government decided to sell the TAP Portugal Group, owner of the national air carrier, TAP Portugal, to the Gateway consortium formed by the partnership between David Neeleman and Humberto Pedrosa, who take control of 61% of the capital of the Portuguese flag carrier. TAP Portugal will maintain the country as the airline’s main hub for a minimum of 30 years.[24]

On 14 January 2016, TAP Portugal announced that the subsidiary Portugália will be rebranded TAP Express by 27 March 2016 as part of further restructuring measures within the group.[25] On the same day, TAP Portugal also announced that the entire Portugália fleet will be replaced with new aircraft by July 2016 which will receive a livery similar to that of TAP Portugal.[25]

Also in January 2016, TAP Portugal announced cuts to their route network by ceasing all long-haul flights to Panama City, Manaus and Bogota as well as the European connections to Hanover and Zagreb.[26]

Corporate affairs

TAP head office in Lisbon

TAP has its head office in Building 25 on the grounds of Portela Airport in Santa Maria dos Olivais, Lisbon.[27][28]

Subsidiaries

Lisbon airport apron with TAP Portugal A330-200's on the background and Portugália Airlines Embraer 145, its subsidiary airline company, on the forefront

TAP Portugal's subsidiaries are:

  • Portugal TAP Serviços (100%)
  • Portugal CateringPOR (51%)
  • Portugal Lojas Francas de Portugal (51%)
  • Portugal Megasis (100%)
  • Portugal UCS (100%)

TAP Cargo

TAP Cargo is the freight branch of TAP Portugal. It does not operate own cargo aircraft but sells freight capacity aboard TAP's passenger flights and also maintains five scheduled all-cargo routes utilizing other airlines:

TAP Cargo also operates Lisbon-Luanda all-cargo non-regular flights, in an Avient Aviation DC-10F, a Girjet 747-200F, and other leased aircraft.

Destinations

TAP Portugal destinations
  Portugal
  TAP Portugal Destinations
  TAP Portugal New Destinations in 2014

In 2012, TAP Portugal served 78 destinations in 34 countries across Europe, Africa, North America and South America, with some domestic, European and African destinations being operated by Portugália or PGA Express.[29]

In 2011, more destinations were added to TAP network, with direct flights from its Lisbon hub to Accra, Athens, Bamako, Bordeaux, Dubrovnik, Düsseldorf, Manchester, Miami, Porto Alegre, São Vicente and Vienna, expanding its presence in Africa and adding its second destination in North America.

Expansion in the intercontinental route network has been strained by the lack of space experienced at Lisbon's Portela International Airport combined with lack of adequate long-haul aircraft and no recent re-capitalisations (the last of which took place nearly 10 years ago by the Portuguese government).

With the Portuguese government, as well as the current TAP CEO Fernando Pinto proposing an urgent privatisation of the airline as soon as the beginning of 2012, this could lead to more aircraft being leased or bought to booster TAP Portugal's profitable long-haul operations and start new routes. By March 2014 the privatisation was still on hold.

In December 2013, TAP Portugal announced ten new destinations to its network. It will count with 6 new destinations within Europe, Belgrade, Gothenburg, Hannover, Nantes, Saint Petersburg, Tallinn and 4 in Latin America serving Belém, Bogotá, Manaus and Panama City.[30] The routes are expected to start with the arrival of six new aircraft.[31] On 21 March 2014 the airline announced their 11th route for 2014 Oviedo and that it would acquire two ATR 42-600 for its subsidiary company PGA Express which operates mostly Spanish routes.[16][32]

After privatization in June 2015 it was announced TAP would add 10 new destinations in the United States, where it now has two - Miami and New York, and eight to 10 destinations in Brazil, where it already has 11. Many Europeans transit through Portugal to fly to Brazil because of the large amount of slots TAP holds on the South American country.[33]

As of next March 27, TAP will increase the number of weekly flights to destinations already served in Europe, Brazil, the United States and Africa.[34]

TAP has announced in January 2016 the creation of the Porto-Lisbon shuttle designated as “Ponte Aérea” to connect both destinations with flights every hour adding to 16 roundtrip dailies.

Codeshare agreements

TAP has codeshare agreements with several carriers, * indicates fellow Star Alliance partners.

Fleet

TAP Portugal Airbus A319-100
TAP Portugal Airbus A330-200

The consortium that won the company's privatization in June 2015 has promised to buy 53 new Airbus aircraft for TAP. It was announced new orders would include 14 wide-body A330s and 39 narrow-body A320 Family aircraft.[39]

TAP Portugal has announced in January 2016 the order of new 8 ATR 72-600 and 9 Embraer 190 and the creation of the new brand TAP Express that will replace Portugália PGA Airlines. In January 2016, TAP Portugal also announced the order of more two Airbus A330-200 to add for his wide-body family.

As of October 2015, the fleet of TAP Portugal consists of the following aircraft:[18][40]

TAP Portugal Fleet
Aircraft Total Orders Options Passengers[41] Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 21 — — 30 102 132 One aircraft painted in TAP Portugal 70 Years livery.
Airbus A320-200 19 — — 18 150 168 One aircraft painted in Star Alliance livery.
Airbus A320neo — 15 — TBA
Airbus A321-200 3 — — 20 174 204
Airbus A321neo — 24 — TBA Includes A321LR variant
Airbus A330-200 14 2[42] — 24 239 263 One aircraft painted in Star Alliance livery
Another aircraft painted in TAP Portugal 70 Years livery
Older aircraft to be replaced by Airbus A330-900neo.
Airbus A330-900neo — 14 TBA Replacing 12 A350 order.
Airbus A340-300 4 — — 36 232 268 To be replaced by Airbus A330-900neo.
ATR 42-600 2 — — — 46 46 Operated by White Airways.
Total 63 55 0 — —

Services

Lounges

TAP Portugal offers two different lounges at Lisbon Airport, the TAP Premium Lounge, available for Victoria Gold Winners, Star Alliance Gold members and passengers flying on business class on Star Alliance flights, while Victoria Silver Winners have only access to the Blue Lounge, contracted with the handling subsidiary Ground Force.

Cabins

Cabin view of a TAP flight

The aircraft are divided into a two-class cabin - business class (branded as tap|executive) and economy classes (tap plus, tap classic, tap basic and tap discount). Tap does not offer first class services.

On the medium-haul fleet of Airbus A319, Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 aircraft, both cabins feature leather seats with an in-flight entertainment (IFE) system of several LCD screens that are extended from the cabin ceiling. The tap|executive class offers better privacy than economy class and more meal options.

On the long-haul fleet of Airbus A330 and Airbus A340 aircraft, the cabin is divided into a two-class layout. The economy class of the new Airbus A330's and Airbus A340's is equipped with modern individual LCDs with touchscreen and a complete IFE, while the older Airbus A330's feature an average IFE and less-updated individual screens. The entire fleet of Airbus A340 economy class has been refurbished during 2013, adding a new seat design and new in-flight entertainment systems.[43]

In tap|executive class, seats are capable of turning into lie-flat beds. New Airbus A330 aircraft are also fitted with extra functions.

TAP's inflight magazine is named 'UP' and is available on board, as a fully responsive website (compatible with desktops, smart phones and tablets), and as a freely downloadable application for Apple's iPad.[44]

Frequent-flyer program

TAP Portugal current loyalty program is Victoria, which awards members miles based on the distance travelled, ticket fare and class of service. As part of Star Alliance, miles can be earned as well from Star Alliance and other eligible partners. Membership in the Victoria programme is free. Award Miles are redeemable for free tickets, upgrades to a higher class of service, extra baggage allowance, and lounge access. Award Miles can furthermore be donated to charity. The Victoria Programme is divided into 3 tiers:[45]

Accidents and incidents

According to the JACDEC Airliner Safety Report released in January 2011, TAP Portugal was rated Western Europe's safest airline and tied for fourth worldwide with three other airlines (Qantas, Air New Zealand, and Finnair). The JADEC report rates TAP Portugal well above any of its competitors in its prime geographic operating areas: Europe, Atlantic Islands, Africa, North America and South America.[46]

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 Annual report 2014, PDF, retrieved 29 July 2015 (Portuguese)
  2. ↑ Marson, 1982, p. 258
  3. ↑ Chillon, 1980, pp. 53-54
  4. ↑ "TAP Portugal". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "MRO Solutions - TAP Maintenance & Engineering". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Easier Travel: TAP flies to Warsaw, Moscow & Helsinki retrieved 8 December 2008
  7. ↑ "TAP Portugal - Star Alliance". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  8. ↑ World Travel Awards: TAP Portugal retrieved 24 December 2011
  9. ↑ "TAP Portugal - Star Alliance". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  10. ↑ Tap Portugal. TAP Portugal (2012-01-12). Retrieved on 2013-08-20.
  11. 1 2 3 Nery, Sérgio. "TAP lança nova campanha institucional na BTL 2011." Jornal de Turismo. Friday 25 February 2011. Retrieved on 24 January 2012. "Para ilustrar esta proximidade e complementaridade entre povos, a portuguesa Mariza, o angolano Paulo Flores e a cantora brasileira Roberta de Sá juntaram para dar voz a uma música contagiante. No video, os cantores profissionais foram acompanhados por um coral, constituído por trabalhadores da TAP."
  12. 1 2 Veloso, Maria João. "MORA & AVIS – WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN." (Portuguese: "MORA & AVIS – DE BRAÇOS ABERTOS.") Up. TAP Portugal, 1 June 2011. Retrieved on 24 January 2012.
  13. ↑ "Mariza, Paulo Flores e Roberta Sá - De Braços Abertos." (Archive) TAP Portugal Official YouTube Channel. Retrieved on January 25, 2012. "These artists were joined in the choir by some of TAP's employees."
  14. 1 2 3 Peláez, Marina Watson (19 October 2012). "Privatisations: Sole Bidder for TAP-Air Portugal". Lisbon, Portugal. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  15. ↑ Pratas, José Carlos (19 October 2012), Basílio Horta: Processo de privatização da TAP "é um escândalo nacional" (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Dinheiro Vivo, retrieved 23 October 2012
  16. 1 2 http://www.presstur.com/site/news.asp?news=46558
  17. ↑ http://www.tapportugal.com/PressRelease/pt/oviedo-e-o-11-novo-destino-da-tap-em-2014
  18. 1 2 "Aircraft and Fleet Lists - ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  19. ↑ "UPDATE 1-Portugal to sell up to 66 pct of airline TAP in relaunched privatisation". Reuters. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  20. ↑ http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/44a2ed0818d647a290e289ef97bb4f60/EU--Portugal-Airline-Privatization
  21. ↑ Anabela Reis (13 November 2014). "Portugal Makes Fresh Attempt to Find Buyer for Flag Carrier TAP". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. ↑ https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/world/a/25510400/portugal-puts-66-stake-in-tap-airline-up-for-sale/
  23. ↑ http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/10-day-strike-portuguese-airline-pilots-grounds-flights-30723658
  24. ↑ Magalhaes, Luciana (11 June 2015). "Brazil’s Azul Airlines Founder Wins Bid to Buy Portuguese Carrier TAP". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  25. 1 2 atwonline.com - TAP Portugal creates TAP Express to replace Portugalia 15 Januar 2016
  26. ↑ air-journal.fr - Portugal : TAP Express remplace Portugalia (French) 14 January 2016
  27. ↑ "Estatutos TAP." TAP Portugal. Retrieved on 23 February 2010. "A sede da sociedade é em Lisboa, no Edificio 25, no Aeroporto de Lisboa."
  28. ↑ "Contact Us." TAP Portugal. Retrieved on 15 December 2011. "AEROPORTO DE LISBOA / LISBON AIRPORT ED. 25 - R/C DTO / BUILDING 25 - Ground Floor (right side) 1704-801 LISBOA"
  29. ↑ Destinations TAP, retrieved 15 February 2012
  30. ↑ Presidente da TAP anuncia 10 novos destinos // TAP's CEO announces 10 new destinations. YouTube. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  31. ↑ "TAP Portugal, will launch flights to Belgrade next year". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  32. ↑ "TAP PORTUGAL - TAP Portugal". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  33. ↑ TAP new owners see profits from 2016, to invest up to 800 mln euros - Reuters
  34. ↑
  35. ↑ "Azul Brazilian Airlines / TAP Portugal Launches Codeshare Partnership from December 2015". Airlineroute.net. 3 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  36. ↑ "Copa Airlines / TAP Portugal Launches Codeshare Partnership from June 2015". Airlineroute.net. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  37. ↑ "Emirates adds Iberian Connections with Codesharing". scoop.co.nz. 19 December 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  38. ↑ "Ethiopian Airlines / TAP Portugal Launches Codeshare Partnership from November 2015". Airlineroute.net. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  39. ↑ TAP new owners see profits from 2016, to invest up to 800 million euros - Reuters
  40. ↑ "History - TAP Portugal". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  41. ↑ http://www.tapportugal.com/Info/en/fleet-history/fleet-2014
  42. ↑ http://www.presstur.com/site/news.asp?news=46681
  43. ↑ LisbonJet. "LisbonJet's Logbook". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  44. ↑ "iPad In-Flight Magazines". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  45. ↑ "TAP PORTUGAL - TAP Portugal". http://www.flytap.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015. External link in |work= (help)
  46. ↑ TAP é a quarta companhia aérea mais segura do mundo - relatório JACDEC MSN Notícias (Portuguese)
Bibliography

External links

Media related to TAP Portugal at Wikimedia Commons

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