SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAP Air Portugal will fly five weekly nonstop round-trips, year-round, between San Francisco and Lisbon from June next year. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will become the airline’s eighth North American gateway and the only one on the west coast. Last month TAP announced new routes to Lisbon from Chicago O’Hare and Washington-Dulles, also starting in June.
The SFO flights will operate Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from June 10, departing SFO on at 4:10pm, and arriving in Lisbon at 11:25am the following morning. Returning flights leave Lisbon at 10am, arriving into SFO at 2:40pm. Economy fares from SFO to Lisbon start at just $380 one way, all-inclusive of taxes, or from $800 round-trip.
“We’re excited to keep adding new cities from the USA to Portugal,” said David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways and a major shareholder in TAP. “Despite being a 73-year old airline, this year TAP is one of the world’s top 10 fastest growing airlines. As Portugal has become a more popular destination, US travelers have not only found out about Portugal but also about flying TAP beyond Lisbon to our 70+ destinations across Europe and Africa.”
"We are proud that TAP Air Portugal has selected SFO for its growth plans on the United States West Coast," said Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. "We share TAP Air Portugal's passion for making air travel an enjoyable experience, and travelers in the San Francisco Bay Area can look forward to an easy and economical new way to travel to Portugal and beyond."
TAP is the launch carrier for the new A330-900neo aircraft with 21 planned for delivery in the next 18 months. The A330neo is part of a larger 71 aircraft order, with TAP also set to take delivery of 19 A320neos, 17 A321neos, and 14 A321 Long Range jets.
The A330neo aircraft features state of the art personalized entertainment system and connectivity that allows for free text messaging for all passengers. TAP will be the first European airline to offer web-based messaging on long haul flights, free for all passengers.
The A330neo will feature the new Airspace by Airbus cabin. The economy cabin now comprises two categories: Economy and EconomyXtra. The configuration and design provide a roomier cabin, with more legroom, deeper seat recline, and new seat covers in shades of green and gray, or green and red in EconomyXtra. The seat pitch in economy is 31 inches, while Xtra offers an additional three inches’ legroom, with 34 inches.
In TAP’s Executive business class, TAP offers 34 new fully-flat reclining chairs that are more than six feet long when fully reclined. Also, TAP has powered up its new business class chairs to include USB slots and individual electrical sockets, connections for headphones, individual reading lights, and more space, including more storage room.
TAP’s Executive business class fares on both routes start at $1,531 one way, or $3,102 round-trip, for travel to Lisbon. Business class one-way fares to TAP’s popular European destinations, such as Madrid, Barcelona, Paris and Rome, start from just $1,546 each way.
TAP introduced the Portugal Stopover program in 2016 to further attract the ‘beyond Lisbon’ guest. Travelers to all of TAP’s European and African destinations can enjoy up to five nights in Lisbon or Porto along the way, for no extra airfare. So, from SFO, travelers will be able to see Lisbon or Porto and their pick of 70 destinations throughout Europe and Africa with fares starting as low as $279 each way, from SFO to Madrid, Barcelona, Paris or Rome via Lisbon.
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.
Travelers can also enjoy a stopover in Lisbon or Porto even if their final destination is in Portugal, such as: Faro (Algarve); Ponta Delgada or Terceira (the Azores); and Funchal or Porto Santo (Madeira).
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.
Media contact:
Gareth Edmondson-Jones
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917 399-9355
GEJink@gmail.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ffe733d8-69a2-417c-a4b0-9d835192ea3c