TAP Air Portugal Targets North American Growth with Orlando to Lisbon Flights and Premium Products at GBTA Chicago

TAP Air Portugal is targeting stronger North American growth as the Portuguese carrier prepares to launch new nonstop Orlando to Lisbon flights while expanding its premium travel products and corporate services. Speaking exclusively to Francisco Enrique Avila, Correspondent from Travel and Tour World, reporting live from the GBTA Convention 2026, held from 3–5 August 2026 in Chicago, US, Carlos Antunes, Director Americas, TAP Air Portugal, outlined how new routes, premium products, corporate travel tools and Lisbon connectivity are shaping the airline’s strategy across the North American market.

During the exclusive interview, Antunes discussed TAP Air Portugal’s growing North American footprint, the upcoming Orlando–Lisbon route, increasing demand for premium travel, the airline’s Economy Prime product, TAP for Biz, fleet modernisation and Lisbon’s strategic position as a connecting hub between North America and international destinations.

GBTA Convention 2026 Strengthens TAP Air Portugal’s North American Engagement

GBTA Convention 2026 in Chicago provided TAP Air Portugal with an important platform to engage with corporate travel buyers, industry partners and the wider business travel community.

Antunes described the convention as one of the most important travel trade events for the airline and highlighted the opportunity it provides to meet partners while presenting TAP’s routes, products and services.

The airline’s presence also reflected its wider effort to remain close to the North American market as its footprint continues to grow.

TAP brought team members from markets including New York, Portugal and Brazil, underlining the international nature of its commercial engagement at the event and its focus on global travellers.

TAP Air Portugal Targets North American Growth with New Orlando–Lisbon Flights

One of the strongest announcements from the interview was TAP Air Portugal’s planned expansion between the United States and Portugal.

Antunes confirmed that the airline is preparing to introduce a new nonstop service between Orlando and Lisbon in October 2026.

The route is planned to operate four times a week using an Airbus A330, giving travellers in Florida another direct connection with Portugal.

The new service forms part of TAP’s broader effort to strengthen its presence across North America while using Lisbon as a gateway for onward international travel.

For TAP, adding Orlando expands both its US network and the range of transatlantic travel options available to passengers.

Orlando Route Will Expand TAP’s North American Network to Eleven Gateways

The addition of Orlando will increase TAP Air Portugal’s North American network from ten gateways to eleven, according to Antunes.

That expansion represents an important part of the airline’s transatlantic strategy.

Rather than relying only on existing markets, TAP is adding another US gateway that can connect travellers directly with Lisbon and then potentially onward through its wider network.

The four-times-weekly service also strengthens TAP’s ability to serve passengers travelling between Florida and Portugal.

By expanding its North American gateway network, the airline is seeking to increase its reach while making its Lisbon hub accessible to a broader group of US travellers.

Lisbon Gives TAP a Strategic Position Between North America and Europe

Lisbon remains central to TAP Air Portugal’s international connectivity strategy.

Antunes highlighted Portugal’s geographic position on the western edge of Europe and its location along the Atlantic as a distinctive advantage for the airline.

That position allows TAP to use Lisbon as a connecting point for travellers moving between North America and destinations farther across Europe.

Rather than viewing Lisbon only as a final destination, TAP is positioning the Portuguese capital as an international gateway within its wider network.

The strategy gives North American travellers the option of visiting Portugal directly or continuing to other destinations through Lisbon and, where applicable, Porto.

TAP Connects North American Travellers with More Than Fifty Destinations

The value of TAP Air Portugal’s North American network extends beyond its direct transatlantic routes.

Antunes said the airline’s North American gateways can connect passengers through Lisbon or Porto to more than fifty destinations within its wider network.

This connecting capability strengthens the role of Portugal in TAP’s international strategy.

For business and leisure travellers, a transatlantic flight to Lisbon can therefore become the first stage of a wider journey.

The planned Orlando service will add another North American starting point to this network, allowing more travellers to access TAP’s connecting system while increasing the airline’s presence between the two sides of the Atlantic.

Growing Premium Demand Shapes TAP Air Portugal’s Business Travel Strategy

Premium travel emerged as another major theme during the interview.

Antunes said TAP Air Portugal has observed growing demand for premium products as corporate and international travel continues to evolve.

The airline already offers business class on its intercontinental routes, but it is also developing products aimed at travellers seeking an experience between traditional economy and business class.

This shift has become an important part of TAP’s approach to the corporate travel market.

By widening the range of products available onboard, TAP can address travellers with different budgets and service expectations while responding to stronger interest in comfort, priority services and enhanced travel experiences.

Economy Prime Creates a New Option Between Business and Economy

TAP Air Portugal’s Economy Prime product forms a central part of its response to growing premium demand.

Antunes said the product was introduced on 1 June 2026 as an intermediate option between the airline’s business class and standard economy offering.

Economy Prime includes several upgraded elements designed to improve the passenger experience.

According to the interview, these include a premium meal, an empty neighbouring seat, priority boarding and priority check-in.

The product allows TAP to address passengers who want more comfort and convenience without moving fully into business class.

Its introduction also gives corporate travel managers another product category to consider when balancing traveller experience with travel budgets.

TAP for Biz Supports the Airline’s Corporate Travel Push

Corporate travel remains another important area of focus for TAP Air Portugal.

Antunes highlighted TAP for Biz, the airline’s corporate travel tool suite, as part of the products it is promoting to the business travel market.

The platform was relaunched in the previous year and forms part of TAP’s effort to strengthen its relationship with corporate customers.

Its presence alongside Economy Prime at GBTA Convention 2026 demonstrates how TAP is addressing business travel from more than one direction.

The airline is combining network expansion, onboard products and corporate travel services as it seeks to become more relevant to companies and travellers moving between North America and international markets.

Premium Products Give TAP More Flexibility Across Traveller Segments

The introduction of an intermediate premium product gives TAP Air Portugal greater flexibility in how it serves different passenger groups.

Business class remains the airline’s highest premium cabin on intercontinental services, while economy continues to serve travellers seeking its standard long-haul product.

Economy Prime creates another choice between those two categories.

That additional option could be particularly relevant as companies assess travel policies and individual passengers decide how much they are willing to spend for additional comfort.

TAP’s strategy therefore goes beyond simply adding seats or routes.

It is also broadening the type of experience passengers can select, giving the airline more ways to address changing expectations within long-haul travel.

Modern Aircraft Sit at the Centre of TAP’s Sustainability Approach

Sustainability was also discussed during the interview, particularly in relation to airline fuel consumption.

Antunes said one of the most practical ways for an airline to improve environmental sustainability is to operate more modern aircraft that consume less fuel.

His comments placed fleet efficiency at the centre of TAP Air Portugal’s approach to reducing environmental impact while maintaining the passenger experience.

For airlines operating long-haul networks, aircraft efficiency is closely connected with fuel use.

TAP’s focus, as described in the interview, is therefore on using modern aircraft technology as an important component of its sustainability strategy rather than treating environmental performance separately from everyday airline operations.

TAP Uses Portuguese Identity to Differentiate Its International Offering

TAP Air Portugal is also using its Portuguese identity as part of its positioning in North America.

Antunes said one of the airline’s goals at GBTA Convention 2026 was to continue promoting what makes TAP and Portugal distinctive while presenting its routes, products and services to the market.

That approach connects the airline’s commercial strategy with its home country.

Lisbon is not only TAP’s principal connecting hub but also part of the travel proposition itself.

As TAP adds new North American routes, the airline can promote direct access to Portugal while simultaneously offering onward connectivity, allowing destination appeal and network utility to support each other within its transatlantic strategy.

New Routes and Premium Products Strengthen TAP’s North America–Europe Strategy

Throughout the interview, Antunes presented TAP Air Portugal’s North American strategy as a combination of network growth, stronger premium products, corporate travel tools and the geographic advantages of its Lisbon hub.

The planned Orlando–Lisbon service will expand TAP’s North American network to eleven gateways, while Economy Prime gives passengers another option between business and economy travel.

TAP for Biz supports its corporate market strategy, while modern aircraft remain central to its approach to fuel efficiency.

The wider message from GBTA Convention 2026 in Chicago is that TAP Air Portugal is using new connectivity and a broader product portfolio to strengthen its position between North America, Portugal and international markets.

This article is based exclusively on an interview conducted by Francisco Enrique Avila, Correspondent from Travel and Tour World, with Carlos Antunes, Director Americas, TAP Air Portugal, during GBTA Convention 2026, held from 3–5 August 2026 in Chicago, US. All airline statements, route details, product information and strategic observations attributed to TAP Air Portugal reflect information provided during the interview.