NEW YORK, June 26, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAP Portugal, the 72 year-old national airline, today is debuting its first “retro” aircraft livery, featuring a design it first used in the 1950s. The new aircraft, an A330, has been named “Portugal,” as a tribute to Portugal and the Portuguese people.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0a2e0a3b-6740-45f8-8271-f38b38b81c60
The classic image chosen for this aircraft recreates the original ‘Transportes Aéreos Portugueses’ typography in the colors which were first displayed on a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, received by TAP in July of 1955. The last aircraft in this livery was a Boeing 727-200.
The Airbus A330-300 has been named “Portugal,” as a tribute to both TAP’s history, but also that of the country itself. The livery of the new “Portugal” aircraft is part of a TAP series to celebrate the historical and inseparable connection between TAP, Portugal and its people.
TAP has a fleet of 53 new aircraft on order for delivery in the coming years, including 14 A330-900 neo aircraft, and 39 A320 neo aircraft also. The airline is expanding capacity as it opens new routes, such as the recent Toronto-Lisbon service that was inaugurated on June 10th. “Portugal” will operate long-haul commercial flights, promoting Portugal across international borders, to North and South America, as well as Africa. The A330 CS-TOV accommodates up to 285 passengers.
This is the second TAP aircraft that has received the name of the country. The first one to be called “Portugal” was a Boeing 747-200, delivered to TAP in February of 1972.
“Portugal” will be presented in Portugal today for an exhibition flight, before it officially goes into operation.
About TAP Portugal
TAP is Portugal’s leading airline, and member of Star Alliance, the global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach, since 2005. In operation since 1945, TAP celebrated 70 years on March 14, 2015, and has completed its privatization process in 2015, with the Atlantic Gateway Group now as a new private shareholder. TAP hub in Lisbon is a key European gateway at the crossroads of Africa, North, Central and South America, where TAP stands out as the international leading carrier in operation to Brazil. As of Summer 2017 on the company’s network will comprise 84 destinations in 34 countries worldwide. TAP currently operates about 2,500 weekly flights in average on a modern fleet of 63 Airbus aircraft and 17 aircraft in TAP Express livery, operating in the company’s regional network, adding up to an 80 aircraft fleet in the whole.
Within the vast restructure program currently going across the company as the outcome of its privatization process, TAP restructured its network, launched new fare products and has announced, among other news, its medium and long haul fleet renewal program as of 2018 and the retrofit of the fleet currently in operation as well as the launch of the new branded product TAP Express, which replaced PGA and operates a new fleet of 8 ATR 72 and 9 Embraer 190.
In the pursuit of its customer focused policy, TAP continuously strives to deliver safe, reliable and upgraded products & services, tailored to meet customers’ expectations. Retaining the Portuguese character of the Company’s brand and quality service as the basic concept has been the main driver of TAP strategy in most recent years. Recognized and awarded as the Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa as well as Europe’s Leading Airline to South America by the World Travel Awards in 2016, 2015 and 2014, the company was also awarded as the WTA World’s Leading Airline to Africa in 2011 and 2012 and the WTA World’s Leading Airline to South America in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, while the company’s In-flight magazine UP also received the WTA award as Europe’s Leading In-flight Magazine in 2015 and 2016. Voted Best Airline in Europe in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 by the Global Traveler, USA, the company was also honored by UNESCO and by the International Union of Geological Sciences with the IYPE “Planet Earth Award 2010”, in the category of “Most Innovative Sustainable Product”. TAP was also voted Best Airline by Condé Nast Traveller Magazine in 2010 and Best Portuguese Tourism Company by the specialized magazine Marketeer, in 2011.