TAP Air Portugal adds 9th destination in the United States with new flights to Orlando
March 1, 2026
TAP Air Portugal has announced that it will be launching flights between Lisbon and Orlando as of this summer, growing its already-strong network in the United States. Using a mix of Airbus A330-200 and A330-900neo equipment, the new route will operate thrice weekly.
The news was revealed by the carrier’s CEO, Luis Rodrigues, at a conference in Lisbon. He shared that the new route represents yet another step in the airline’s expansion to the “world’s largest market.” The news also comes as the Portuguese government proceeds with carrier’s privatisation, which Europe’s three major airline groups – IAG, Air France-KLM and the Lufthansa Group – are keen to get involved in.
TAP Air Portugal is launching flights to Orlando
The Orlando route begins from 29 October 2026 coinciding with the start of the aviation winter season. The three weekly operation will see flights depart Lisbon on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Flights on Monday will use an A330ceo, while the remaining two will use an A330-900.
“Despite being a small company on a global scale, TAP doesn’t hide,” said Rodrigues, quoted by local media. The new route will cater to the Portuguese and Brazilian community in Orlando, and will likely also be an important connection for holidaymakers on both sides of the Atlantic.
An hour’s drive from Orlando is Palm Coast, where a relatively large Portuguese community resides. Portugal operates an Honorary Consulate there as well.
TAP Air Portugal now serves 9 destinations in the United States
TAP’s primary long-haul focus includes services across the Atlantic and a select number of flights to lusophone countries in Africa. It has a significant presence in South America – particularly Brazil – and serves several destinations in North America with a key focus on the United States.
Aside from Orlando, this year it will also fly to Boston, Newark, Washington D.C., New York-JFK, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago O’Hare and San Francisco according to information from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Its newest destination besides Orlando is Los Angeles. It launched a route from Lisbon last year, operating summer seasonally. It is also the carrier’s longest route by distance.
Cirium data shows that the carrier’s flights to the United States have increased by 500% since 2015, growing from just two destinations (Miami and Newark) to nine this year.
TAP’s privatisation process continues
At the same time, the Portuguese government continues to work on TAP’s privatisation process. It hopes to announce a winning bid by the summer, and non-binding offers are currently being prepared by Europe’s big three airline groups in advance of a deadline in early April.
The government is offering 44.9% of the company, and IAG, Air France-KLM and the Lufthansa Group also see the value of the company. The airline’s extensive South American network and control of slots at Lisbon’s slot-constrained Humberto Delgado Airport make it particularly valuable.
All three airlines attribute considerable importance to their networks to the United States as well. The high-yielding market from Europe is exceptionally valuable, and often makes up a large part of their respective revenue shares.
TAP’s expansion in America might just make it even more interesting to Europe’s major airline groups.
Featured image: Markus Mainka | stock.adobe.com
