NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAP Air Portugal will triple its flights between Newark and Porto starting June 1, flying six weekly nonstop round-trips. Also, the airline is adding new service from Porto to Brussels, Lyon and Munich which means US travelers can now enjoy a stopover of up to five days in Porto, en route to 14 European destinations from Newark.
The airline is growing its North American operations significantly this year, also adding service to Lisbon from Chicago O’Hare, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles, starting June 1, 10 and 16, respectively.
The new EWR-OPO flights will operate every day except Tuesday aboard TAP’s new Airbus A321 Long Range fleet, one of the world’s most modern aircraft, offering the most advanced levels of comfort, efficiency and technology.
TAP has 14 A321 Long Range jets on order, part of a larger 71 aircraft order which also includes 21 A330neos, 17 A321neos and 19 A320neos. All 71 jets will be received by 2025, 37 of them by the end of 2019.
“While most travelers to Portugal fly through Lisbon, our nonstop service between Newark and Porto has always been very popular -- and we’re excited to be able to add four more weekly flights on the route with our new aircraft,” said David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways and a major shareholder in TAP. “And with our network growth beyond Porto, US travelers will be able to enjoy TAP’s Portugal Stopover program, with up to five days in Porto, en route to more than a dozen destinations in the Azores, Madeira, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.”
TAP introduced the Portugal Stopover program in 2016 for travelers flying throughout Europe and Africa. Now they can break the trip and enjoy two destinations for the price of one, for no extra airfare.
From Porto, TAP flies nonstop to: Funchal, Madeira; Ponte Delgada, The Azores; Brussels, Belgium; Paris and Lyon, France; Munich, Germany; Milan, Italy; Luxembourg; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Barcelona and Madrid, Spain; Geneva and Zurich, Switzerland; and London, United Kingdom.
The Portugal Stopover comprises a network of more than 150 partners who provide exclusive offers for Stopover customers for hotels discounts and complimentary experiences such as free entry to museums, dolphin watching in the River Sado and food tastings – even a free bottle of Portuguese wine in participating restaurants.
About TAP Air Portugal
TAP is Portugal’s leading airline and a member of the global airline Star Alliance since 2005. Flying since 1945, TAP celebrated its 70th anniversary on March 14, 2015, before completing its privatization process later that year, now with the Atlantic Gateway Group as private shareholders.
TAP’s network comprises 84 destinations in 34 countries worldwide. The airline currently operates around 2,500 weekly flights, with a modern fleet of 63 Airbus aircraft. TAP Express, the airline’s regional arm, operates an additional 17 aircraft.
With TAP’s privatization process, it has restructured its network, launched new fare products and is renewing its medium and long-haul fleet. TAP has 53 Airbus neo aircraft on order and, by 2020, it’s long-haul fleet will either have been replaced with new aircraft or newly reconfigured aircraft. TAP Express now operates a new fleet of 8 ATR 72 and 9 Embraer 190.
TAP is one of Europe’s most awarded airlines. Global Traveler (USA) named TAP as Best Airline in Europe from 2011 to 2016, and the World Travel Awards named TAP as both Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa and Europe’s Leading Airline to South America from 2014 – 2017. Previously TAP was awarded World’s Leading Airline to Africa, in 2011 and 2012, and World’s Leading Airline to South America from 2009 through 2012. TAP’s Inflight Magazine, UP, received the World Travel Award as Europe’s Leading In-flight Magazine for 2015, 2016 and 2017.
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