Tuesday, August 4, 2026
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TAP Air Portugal is reinforcing its long-term commitment to the North American market with new premium travel products, expanded connectivity and a stronger focus on business travellers. Speaking exclusively to Apratim Ghoshal, Senior Editor at Travel And Tour World during the GBTA Convention 2026 in Chicago, United States Carlos Antunes, Directo, Americas for TAP Air Portugal, highlighted the airline’s latest initiatives aimed at strengthening its position across the transatlantic market.
The airline, Portugal’s flag carrier, used one of the world’s largest business travel events to promote its expanding product portfolio, deepen relationships with corporate travel partners and showcase new opportunities for travellers flying between North America and Europe.
According to Carlos Antunes, Director for TAP Air Portugal, GBTA Convention remains one of the airline’s most important industry events, providing an opportunity to engage directly with travel buyers, corporate customers and industry leaders.
He said TAP Air Portugal continues to promote its Portuguese identity while expanding awareness of its routes, services and customer experience throughout the North American market.
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The airline currently serves ten North American gateways and confirmed that an eleventh destination will join the network later this year.
One of the key announcements made during the interview was the introduction of a new nonstop route between Orlando and Lisbon.
The new service is scheduled to begin in October 2026, operating four times per week using an Airbus A330 aircraft. The route will further strengthen TAP Air Portugal’s North American network and provide additional connectivity through its Lisbon hub to destinations across Europe.
Carlos noted that the new service complements the airline’s growing transatlantic operations and offers another gateway for travellers heading to Portugal and beyond.
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Responding to changing corporate travel preferences, he explained that TAP Air Portugal has observed growing demand for premium travel experiences.
To address this trend, the airline introduced Economy Prime on 1 June 2026.
The new cabin is positioned between Economy Class and the airline’s Business Class, offering passengers several enhanced benefits, including:
The product is designed to offer additional comfort and convenience for travellers seeking a premium experience without booking Business Class.
He also highlighted TAP for Biz, the airline’s corporate travel platform, which was relaunched last year.
The programme is intended to strengthen relationships with business customers by providing dedicated tools and services tailored to corporate travel requirements, supporting companies and travel managers as business travel demand continues to evolve.
Discussing sustainability, Carlos emphasised that fleet modernisation remains one of the airline’s most effective environmental initiatives.
He explained that operating newer aircraft capable of consuming less fuel represents the most practical way for airlines to reduce emissions while maintaining operational efficiency and delivering a high-quality passenger experience.
Rather than focusing on a single sustainability programme, the Director stressed that improving fuel efficiency through modern aircraft forms the foundation of TAP Air Portugal’s environmental strategy.
Carlos Antunes, Director for TAP Air Portugal described Lisbon’s geographical location as one of TAP Air Portugal’s greatest competitive advantages.
Situated on Europe’s western Atlantic coast, Portugal enables efficient transatlantic operations between North America and Europe.
Through its hubs in Lisbon and Porto, the airline connects passengers from its current North American gateways to more than 50 destinations across Europe.
This network provides business and leisure travellers with convenient onward connections throughout the continent.
Carlos Antunes, Director for TAP Air Portugal said the GBTA Convention continues to play a significant role in the airline’s commercial strategy.
He noted that TAP Air Portugal’s delegation included representatives from New York, Portugal and Brazil, reflecting the importance of the event for the airline’s international operations.
This convention in USA allows TAP Air Portugal to monitor emerging trends, engage with the global travel industry and present its latest products to travel professionals from around the world.
This exclusive interview highlighted TAP Air Portugal’s continued investment in premium products, network expansion and corporate travel solutions.
With the launch of Economy Prime, the expansion of its North American network through Orlando, ongoing investment in TAP for Biz and the strategic advantages of its Lisbon hub, the airline is positioning itself to capture growing demand for transatlantic business and leisure travel while maintaining its focus on operational efficiency and customer experience.
TAP Air Portugal is strengthening its position as one of Europe’s leading transatlantic airlines through an ambitious growth strategy focused on network expansion, premium travel experiences and stronger connectivity between North America and Europe. As Portugal’s national carrier and a member of the Star Alliance, the airline continues to leverage its strategic hubs in Lisbon and Porto to connect travellers with more than 80 destinations across Europe, Africa, North America and South America.
A major highlight of TAP Air Portugal’s 2026 expansion is the launch of its new nonstop Lisbon–Orlando service, scheduled to begin in late October. The route marks Orlando as the airline’s newest North American gateway, providing travellers in Central Florida with direct access to Portugal and seamless onward connections through Lisbon to more than 50 destinations across Europe. The addition further strengthens TAP’s growing footprint in North America, where the airline already serves key cities including New York, Newark, Boston, Chicago, Washington D.C., Miami, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Toronto and Montreal.
The airline is also expanding its South American network with new services to Curitiba and São Luís in Brazil, while resuming flights to Caracas, Venezuela, reinforcing Portugal’s historical and commercial ties with Latin America. These network enhancements position Lisbon as one of Europe’s most important gateways for travellers crossing the Atlantic.
Alongside network growth, TAP Air Portugal is investing heavily in customer experience. In June 2026, the airline introduced Economy Prime, a new cabin positioned between Economy and Business Class. Designed to meet rising demand for premium leisure and corporate travel, the product offers enhanced comfort with benefits including premium meals, priority check-in, priority boarding and an empty adjacent seat where available.
The airline has also strengthened its corporate travel offering through the relaunch of TAP for Biz, providing businesses and travel managers with dedicated booking tools and customised services as business travel demand continues to recover.
Sustainability remains another pillar of TAP Air Portugal’s long-term strategy. The carrier continues to modernise its fleet with fuel-efficient Airbus aircraft, reducing fuel consumption and lowering emissions while maintaining high operational performance.
With expanded routes, innovative premium products and continued investment in sustainable operations, TAP Air Portugal is positioning itself for sustained international growth. Its expanding North American presence and strategic Lisbon hub continue to make the airline an increasingly attractive choice for both business and leisure travellers seeking efficient connections between the Americas and Europe.
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