TAP Air Portugal celebrates 80 years

TAP celebrates its anniversary.

Flying Portugal for 80 years.

TAP Air Portugal celebrated its 80th anniversary on Friday 14 March, with several initiatives to mark the festive date.

The Portuguese national airline was founded on March 14, 1945, by Humberto Delgado. After several preparatory stages, the then called Transportes Aéreos Portugueses conducted its first regular commercial flight on September 19, 1946, between Lisbon and Madrid, in a DC-3 Dakota aircraft.

80 years later, TAP represents Portugal worldwide and is in the top three of the largest national exporters. In 2024, it transported more than 16 million passengers.

With a fleet of 99 aircraft, this summer the national airline will fly to 84 cities, 10 in North America, 14 in South America, 12 in Africa, 6 in Portugal and 42 in the rest of Europe.

In total, TAP will operate more than 1250 flights per week this summer. The main novelties will be the new flights Lisbon – Los Angeles, Porto – Boston, Terceira – S. Francisco and the resumption of flights to Porto Alegre.

TAP is ranked by Airline Ratings, in 2025, as the safest airline in Europe and the eleventh safest in the world.

Luís Rodrigues, President of the airline, considers that “we celebrate a historic milestone, the 80th anniversary of TAP Air Portugal. Over these eight decades, TAP has grown from a small carrier, with two aircraft, to become a reference in world aviation, connecting Portugal to the world with excellence, innovation and commitment.”

“This journey was made with the tireless dedication of thousands of workers and the trust of our customers and partners. We faced challenges, overcame adversity and, with resilience, reinvented ourselves to continue to fly higher.”

“We look to the future with ambition and determination, investing in fleet modernization, sustainability and continuous improvement of our customers’ experience. TAP will continue to be a bridge between continents, promoting Portugal’s culture and economy and remaining a symbol of our country in the world.”

“To all who are part of this history – workers, passengers and partners – our deepest thanks. May the coming years be of even more achievements and success”, concludes Luís Rodrigues.

New advertising film premieres on BTL

TAP Air Portugal premiered its new advertising film on BTL, reinforcing its role as Portugal’s largest showcase in the world. In this film, TAP planes are presented as national territory, taking Portuguese hospitality and values with them to each destination. More than an airline, TAP is a symbol of national identity, where each employee has the mission of welcoming and hosting all passengers with the warmth and authenticity that make Portugal a unique destination.

TAP’s new film can be seen here.

Book “Voar É Preciso” presented within the scope of the 80th anniversary

The book “Voar É Preciso” brings together more than 700 images, most of them unpublished, which will show TAP’s eight-decade history.

The life of the airline is told through its planes, which over time have taken on the role of main characters in the story. Through their arrival, their strategic importance to the airline, the cities they flew to and the routes they inaugurated, the story is told of how these aircraft have helped TAP to evolve over the years and become a successful airline.

Published in Portuguese and English, it has dozens of graphs, route maps, plane profiles and lists TAP’s complete fleet, with dates of the first flights, from delivery to the Company, to the first and last regular flight.

Published in Portuguese and English, it has dozens of graphs, route maps, aircraft profiles, and lists the complete TAP fleet, with dates of the first flights, from delivery to the airline, to the first and last regular flight.

The authors of the book “Voar É Preciso” are Rita Tamagnini, Director of Corporate Communications & Public Affairs at TAP Air Portugal and Gianfranco Beting, photographer, Brazilian businessman, executive in the sector

New Chefs, new talent, new in-flight dining with Local Stars

In the celebration of its 80th anniversary, which had one of the highlights at TAP’s stand at BTL, in Lisbon, the airline announced the new edition of the Local Stars program.

Six talents of Portuguese gastronomy take part in this project, three women and three men. Each Chef will create two complete menus and each of these menus will be served for two months departing from Lisbon, in Business class, on long-haul flights. The first proposal will be signed by Chef Ana Moura, who TAP transports from the Alentejo Coast to the world and will be on board next April.

Chefs Marco Almeida, from Coimbra, Lídia Brás, from Trás-os-Montes, Ricardo Luz, from the Algarve, Rita Magro, from Porto, and António Galapito, from Negrais, are also part of the cast of the new season of Local Stars, and were present at BTL, where they were presented.

The Chefs of the new edition of Local Stars.

Status For Life is the new Miles&Go benefit

 Sofia Lufinha, TAP’s Chief Customer Officer, presented Status For Life at BTL, a way for TAP to cherish, thank and reward those who are at the center of the airline’s attention and for whose satisfaction it works daily: Customers.

TAP will award Gold and Navigator status For Life to Customers who, in their navigation history on the Company’s flights – data available since 1998 – have already accumulated more than two or three million miles, respectively.

With For Life, from now on, the status miles flown with TAP will be counted from the moment the Client registers with Miles&Go and will be displayed on a counter in the reserved area of FlyTAP.com. All customers will be able to track their progress in real time.