TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier of Portugal, headquartered in Lisbon Airport which also serves as its center. TAP - Transportes AÃÆ' Â © reos Portugueses - is a member of the Star Alliance since 2005 and operates an average of 2,500 flights a week to 87 destinations in 34 countries worldwide. The company has a fleet of 90 aircraft, 68 of which are manufactured by Airbus and 22 others by Embraer and ATR, operating on behalf of the regional airline TAP Express.
In June 2015 the company was semi-privatized and majority-owned by the Atlantic Gateway Consortium, led by David Neeleman, who founded JetBlue and Azul and founded WestJet Airlines, along with Portuguese businessman Humberto Pedrosa. The Atlantic Gateway Consortium purchased 61% of the airlines from the Portuguese government on June 24, 2015, with an option to buy a remaining 34% stake in the Portuguese government by 2018. This deal has been besieged as a controversy as it ends at the end of a right-center government mandate with broad opposition from TAP employees. In October 2015, the new left-wing government has sought to restore control of the majority of airlines to the state, having signed in February 2016 an agreement with a private consortium, showing that the company is 50% owned by the Portuguese state, 45% by the Atlantic Gateway Consortium and 5 % shareholder available to collaborators and employees of TAP Air Portugal.
TAP Air Portugal is rated as a three star airline by Skytrax.
Video TAP Air Portugal
History
Postwar operations
The airline, founded on March 14, 1945 as a Transportation AÃÆ'Â Â Ã © reos Portugueses, SGPS, SA ( Portuguese Air Transportation ), commenced commercial service on 19 September 1946, with flights from Lisbon to Madrid using Douglas DC-3. On 31 December, TAP Air Portugal began with Linha AÃ © Ã © rea Imperial , a twelve-stop colonial service including Luanda, Angola and LourenÃÆ'§o Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique. It covers 24.450 km in 15 days (two ways), making it the longest air service operated by twin-engine aircraft.
In 1947, domestic services started from Lisbon to Porto as well as from SÃÆ'Â £ o TomÃÆ'Â © to London. Four Skymasters Douglas DC-4 was purchased this year, which still operates until 1960. Skymasters are used on routes to Africa and to major European destinations including London.
The airline was privatized for the first time in 1953, changing from public service into a public limited company (plc) and starting in service the same year to Tangier and Casablanca.
Lockheed Super Constellation four-pressure engine, obtained at the end of 1955, was soon introduced to Africa's scheduled TAP services to Luanda and LourenÃÆ'§o Marques. In the same year Admiral Gago Coutinho tested flying to Rio de Janeiro.
The jet era - mid 1960s and beyond
Starting in 1960, TAP Air Portugal launched Rio de Janeiro as its first destination in Brazil, in a jointly operated air service called "Voo da Amizade" with Panair do Brasil (1960-1965) and Varig (1965). -1967). The route from Lisbon to Goa, a 19-hour flight with five transit stops, was added to the network in the early 1960s. TAP entered the jet era in July 1962, when three twin-jet planes of Sud Aviation Caravelle were acquired and operated on the most competitive routes in Europe.
One million passengers flew in TAP on June 19, 1964, 18 years after the airline started operations. In 1966, TAP operated its first single flight to Brazil, when a Boeing 707 company landed at Galea Airport in Rio de Janeiro, on 17 June at 17.32 GMT. Exactly at the same time and on the same day as the Santa Cruz flying boat moored in Guanabara Gulf in 1922, when Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho made their historic South Atlantic crossings. The route to Brazil was unveiled.
In 1967, the airline reached a milestone: becoming the first European airline to fly exclusively with jets.
In 1969, service to New York City via Santa Maria Island began. Boston was added to the New York service in 1970.
The first of four Boeing 747-200s was accepted in 1972.
TAP began in 1974 with 32 advanced aircraft operating in over 40 destinations on four continents, starting offering computerized ordering, load control and check-in (known as Tapmatic), and became the first European airline to implement a comprehensive comprehensive overhaul of the Boeing 747 engine. By the end of 1974, TAP had brought more than 1.5 million passengers, flying 68,210 hours through a network of nearly 103,000 kilometers and had over 9,000 staff. After the April 25, 1974 revolution, Portugal was caught in a wave of nationalization over the next year and TAP was no exception, thus becoming a state-owned enterprise in 1975.
After the independence of Angola and Mozambique, the important African market suffered a tremendous decline and two Boeing 747s were sold in 1976.
Fleet modernization and expansion
During the 1980s, the Boeing 707 and 747 fleets were replaced with Lockheed L-1011 TriStars and Airbus A310s on long-haul routes. In 1985 TAP established its subsidiary Air Atlantis, providing recreational flights to most European cities, operating the Boeing 707, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 jets. By the late 1990s, TAP had expanded its fleet by selling Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 which is older, and replaces it with Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. The TriStars were sold to Air Luxor and replaced by Airbus A340, giving the Airbus-only TAP fleet.
In 1989, TAP became a publicly traded company (Sociedade AnÃÆ'³nima ) and their New York service moved to Newark Liberty International Airport from JFK and in 1991 introduced services to Berlin. In 1993, TAP began flying to Tel Aviv. In 1994, TAP signed a code-sharing agreement with Delta Air Lines for the North Atlantic service. This agreement expires in 2005.
1996 saw the introduction of services to Boston via Terceira Island, the inauguration of services to Macau and the launch of the TAP website. In 1997, services began to Punta Cana and Bangkok. Flights to Bangkok and Macau were discontinued in 1998.
The strategic alliance was formed with Swissair in 1997. Within the scope of this agreement, a team of professional managers arrived at TAP, led by Brazilian Fernando Pinto. Part of the agreement will cause Swissair to buy 34% of TAP shares. Also, TAP became a Qualiflyer member, a frequent flyer program led by the Swiss flag carrier. Due to financial difficulties, the Swiss company ultimately did not purchase approved TAP Air Portugal shares, unilaterally lifting the partnership agreement that caused unexpected expenses for Portuguese airlines in 2000, with the culmination of legal action taken against Swissair.
Membership of the 60th Anniversary and Star Alliance
TAP became a Star Alliance member on March 14, 2005, the same day that the company celebrated its 60th birthday. TAP Air Portugal was again branded as TAP Portugal in February 2005. TAP also terminated the code-sharing agreement with Delta Air Lines and started a new agreement with United, as part of its membership in the Star Alliance. Under this agreement, United (UA) codes are placed on transatlantic flights of TAP Air Portugal and several African flights, and the TAP Air Portugal (TP) code is placed on United flights.
In 2006, TAP Air Portugal signed an agreement with EspÃÆ'rito Santo International to acquire 99.81% of the Portuguese regional airline PortugÃÆ'¡lia. Further, he initiated a code-sharing agreement with US Airways on all routes between Portugal and the United States with connection services from Newark and Philadelphia.
In 2007 TAP Air Portugal was awarded by NATO as the Best Machine/Aircraft Repair Source for the AWACS NATO Treatment Program. TAP Air Portugal has a complete maintenance and overhaul base in Portugal (Lisbon) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre), and has a dedicated line maintenance station on three continents: 4 in Portugal, 8 in Brazil, and 1 in Angola. It started scheduled flights to Moscow, Warsaw and Helsinki, in June 2009.
After taking the decision to outsource the Passenger Service System in 2008, TAP migrated its reservation and inventory system to the AltÃÆ' Â © a system administered by Amadeus. Prior to the migration to AltÃÆ'Ã… © a TAP using a system derived from Delta Air Lines called Tapmatic, used since 1972.
Development since 2010
In 2010 TAP introduced two new routes to Africa: Marrakesh and Algiers, which were last discontinued in 2017. The launch of these new routes highlighted the airline's strengthening of its growth strategy for Africa, an important segment of the network in which it has continued to grow since 2001, up from 236,000 to 541,000 passengers, up more than 129%.
Miami and Porto Alegre are the newest long-haul routes introduced in 2011.
Privatization
To get a three-year national bailout, Portugal was forced to sell its interests in several companies, including state-run airlines. Some international operators were withdrawn by the airline's strategic position, but on October 18, 2012, the Portuguese government announced a single potential bidder for the privatized national carrier: the consortium of South America Synergy Aerospace, the owner of Colombian Avianca airlines. The Portuguese financial daily Dinheiro Vivo indicated that the government would suspend privatization negotiations if the German Synergy Aerospace offer of Efromovich was not approved.
On March 21, 2014 the airline announced that it would buy two ATR 42-600 for its subsidiary, PortugÃÆ'¡lia, replacing the smaller Beechcraft 1900D previously operated by PGA Express.
The Portuguese government plans to sell its controlling stake in the airline to one or more large investors in a privatization re-launch in 2014. It is intended to sell 66% of the shares in the airline, with 5% of being set aside for its 7,500. staff. Among the known bidders are South American entrepreneurs, German Efromovich, whose 2012 bid for TAP failed to meet the initial conditions; a consortium formed by American businessman Frank Lorenzo and Portuguese businessman Miguel Pais do Amaral; Brazilian American businessman David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue in the United States and Azul in Brazil and finally Globalia, Air Europa's parent company.
In May 2015, a week-long pilot strike led to the cancellation of about 3,000 TAP Air Portugal flights.
In June 2015, the Portuguese government decided to sell the TAP Air Portugal Group, the owner of a national airline, TAP Air Portugal, to the Atlantic Gateway consortium formed by a partnership between David Neeleman and Humberto Pedrosa, who holds 61% of the Portuguese flag carrier capital. In a memorandum signed by the new owner, TAP Air Portugal must retain the state as the airline's main hub for at least 30 years. The consortium that won the privatization of the company in June 2015 has pledged to buy 53 new Airbus planes for TAP. Announced new orders will include 14 A330 wide aircraft and 39 narrow A320 family planes.
In October 2015, the new left-wing government has sought to restore control of the majority of airlines to the state, having signed in February 2016 an agreement with a private consortium, showing that the company is 50% owned by the Portuguese state, 45% by the Atlantic Gateway Consortium and 5 % shareholders available to TAP collaborators and employees.
After privatization
On January 14, 2016, TAP Air Portugal announced that its PortuguÃÆ'¡lia Airlines subsidiary will be renamed TAP Express on March 27, 2016, as part of further restructuring steps within the group. On the same day, the Portuguese airline also announced that the entire PortuguÃÆ'¡lia fleet would be replaced by a new aircraft in July 2016, which would receive a livery similar to TAP Air Portugal. The decline in carrier networks also occurred in January, with TAP announcing the termination of long-haul flights to Panama City, Manaus and Bogota as well as European connections to Hanover and Zagreb.
TAP Air Portugal plans to promote Portugal, in the United States, as a vibrant and exciting tourism destination, and Lisbon as a major gateway to Europe for North American travelers, and thus, in February 2016, the airline announces the return of John New York F. Kennedy International and Boston's Logan International as a daily non-stop service from Lisbon. The Boston service began on June 11 and the new JFK daily flight started on July 1, both operated with the new Airbus A330-200 that was delivered in June of the same year from Azul Brazilian Airlines. Both of these new routes strengthen the presence in the American market, with TAP also serving Miami from Lisbon and Newark from Lisbon and Porto. Overall, TAP Air Portugal's service grew to 30 flights per week to the US.
TAP expanded its network in 2017, adding 10 routes, some previously operated by airlines: Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Alicante and Las Palmas (Spain), Bucharest (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Cologne and Stuttgart (Germany), Fes (Morocco), LomÃÆ'Â © (Togo), London City Airport (Toronto) and Toronto (Canada).
In March 2017, Miguel Antunes Frasquilho, president and CEO of AICEP Portugal Global, was elected chairman of the new council of TAP Air Portugal.
On September 14, 2017, TAP Portugal renamed TAP Air Portugal , back to the name used between 1979 and 2005.
Maps TAP Air Portugal
Corporate issues and identity
TAP has its headquarters in Building 25 at the Humberto Delgado Airport square in Santa Maria dos Olivais, Lisbon.
Subsidiaries
The subsidiaries of TAP Air Portugal are:
By the end of 2016, TAP Air Portugal owns a 51% interest in Lojas Francas de Portugal (LFP), a retail joint venture made in 1995 between flag operators and Dufry. LFP is present in Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira and Azores, with more than 30 stores, and is also present on the TAP Air Portugal board with its "On Air" shopping magazine. The stake in the company was sold to Vinci, owner of ANA Aeroportos de Portugal.
TAP Cargo
TAP Cargo is a delivery branch of TAP Air Portugal. The airline does not operate its own cargo aircraft but sells shipping capacity on board TAP passenger aircraft and also maintains five scheduled cargo routes that use other airlines:
- London Heathrow Airport is operated by European Air Transport with Boeing 757
- The Frankfurt Airport is operated by MNG Airlines with Airbus A300
- Cologne Bonn Airport is operated by MNG Airlines with Airbus A300
- Brussels Airport is operated by Royal Jordanian with Airbus A310
- Dakar Airport
TAP Cargo also operates non-regular Lisbon-Luanda all-cargo flights, at Avient Aviation DC-10F, Girjet 747-200F, and other leased aircraft.
Branding and identity
Beginning on February 28, 2011 TAP began running "TAP With Arms Wide Open" ( TAP de BraÃÆ'§os Abertos ) campaign, featuring a new slogan. Three singers, Brazilian singer Roberta de SÃÆ'¡, Portuguese singer Mariza, and singer Angola Paulo Flores starred in the music video with the song "Arms Wide Open." This music video features TAP employees. The inclusion of three singers is intended to highlight the closeness between people in Lusophone countries.
Logo & amp; Livery
In 2005 TAP launched its current logo and livery, to coincide with Star Alliance membership, during the airline's 60th anniversary. It also saw a name change from TAP Air Portugal, which was introduced in 1970, to TAP Portugal. On September 14, 2017, TAP returned to the previous name
The first logo dates back to 1945, when the airline was founded. It consists of a blue wing with a TAP acronym written to his left.
Museum
The TAP museum unit was created in 1978, but it was only officially opened on 14 March 1985 as part of the company's 40th anniversary celebrations. The place is at the company headquarters in Lisbon airport grounds. Due to space limitations, on January 29, 2010, the new place Museu do Ar (Air Museum,) in the municipality of Sintra, was opened to the public. This vast museum is the result of a three-way partnership between airport operators Ana-Aeroportos, Portuguese Air Force and TAP. The exhibited collection tells the history of military and civil aviation in Portugal. Visitors can view 40 aircraft, including TAP Douglas DC-3, simulators, engines and other exhibits. A photo panel in the main hangar tells the story of a 100-year flight in Portugal.
Awards
In 2007 TAP Air Portugal was awarded by NATO as the Best Engine/Aircraft Repair Source for NATO AWACS Treatment Program and has been distinguished by the highest maintenance and repair award from Airbus Industries in 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005, certified for aircraft maintenance , complete machinery and components and fixes by FAA, EASA, and several other important certification bodies and aircraft manufacturers (Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer).
In 2010 TAP Air Portugal was awarded the "World's Best Airline Award" by British Condà © å Nast Traveler magazine, judged for its excellence in previous years, and rated "Best Airline to South America" ​​by World Travel Awards in 2009 and 2010, with nominations for "Leading Airline Europe" and "Europe Leading Business Class" in 2007, 2009 and 2010. TAP Air Portugal also consistently achieved high ratings and awards from specialized air travel publications such as Skytrax and Publituris due to the company's excellence in services and performance. In recent years, TAP Air Portugal has successively selected the World's Leading Airline to Africa and to South America by the World Travel Awards (WTA), which is considered the "Oscar" of the world travel industry.
In the December 2017/January 2018 edition of Monocle's Travel Top 50 magazine, the annual list, selected by magazine editors, rewarded the TAP Portugal airline as a "handsome crew" award.
Destination
In June 2017, TAP Air Portugal serves 87 destinations in 34 countries in Europe, Africa, North America and South America, with several domestic, European and African destinations operated by TAP Express.
TAP Air Portugal is the leading European airline flying to Brazil, offering more destinations from its center in Lisbon than any other European airline. Many Europeans transit through Portugal to fly to Brazil due to the many slots TAP has in South America. The airline is looking to expand its services to Brazil further, as well as adding new destinations in the United States, where it currently serves four airports: Boston, Miami, Newark and New York JFK.
In March 2016, TAP Air Portugal began an air-shuttle service, designated "Ponte AÃÆ' Â © rea", to connect Lisbon and Porto airport with an hourly flight adding up to 18 round-trip flights. It is operated by White Airways on behalf of the regional brand TAP Express.
In March 2017, TAP increased the number of weekly flights to destinations already served in Europe, Brazil, the United States and Africa.
TAP Air Portugal has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
Fleet
In April 2018, TAP Air Portugal's fleet consisted of the following aircraft:
TAP Express
TAP Air Portugal announced in January 2016 the creation of a new TAP Express to replace PortugÃÆ'¡lia Airlines. The acquisition of 8 new ATR 72-600s (operated by White Airways crew) and 9 Embraer 190 (operated by the Portuguese crew) replaces the 100-year-old furker and Embraer 145. Embraer 195 was later added to the fleet.
In January 2016, TAP Air Portugal also announced two Airbus A330-200 orders to be added to the wide-body family. TAP Air Portugal will be the first airline to fly Airbus A330neo, the latest version of today's generous jet airliner. The A330, a more efficient and more fuel-efficient version of the new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engine, will begin operating by the end of 2017. The delay in aircraft engine development will push service into 3Q 2018 TAP orders 14 jets as part of a fleet reorganization that more widespread last year.
Fleet development
Prior to the current fleet, TAP Air Portugal has operated the following aircraft types:
Services
Waiting Room
TAP Air Portugal offers two different lounges at Lisbon Airport, the TAP Premium Lounge , available to Golden Victorian Winners, Star Alliance Gold members and passengers flying business class on Star Alliance flights, while Victoria Silver Winners only has access to the Blue Lounge , which is contracted with the Groundforce management company.
Cabin
The plane is divided into two class cabins: business class (branded as executive beat) and economy class (tap | plus, tap | classic, tap | basic and tap | discount). TAP Air Portugal does not offer first class service.
In the medium-range fleet of the Airbus A319, Airbus A320 and Airbus A321, both cabins have been fitted with new leather seats. The executive class offers better privacy than economy class, and more food choices.
In the fleet of Airbus A330 and Airbus A340 long distances, the cabin is divided into two classroom layouts. The economy class of the new Airbus A330 and Airbus A340 is equipped with a modern individual LCD with full touch screen and IFE, while the old Airbus A330 has an average IFE screen and an older individual screen. The entire fleet of the Airbus A340 economy class is updated during 2013, adding new seat designs and new in-flight entertainment systems.
In business class, the seat can be converted into a flat bed. The new Airbus A330 aircraft is also equipped with additional functions.
TAP's in-flight magazines are named UP and available on board, as a fully responsive website (compatible with desktop, smartphones and tablets), and as a free downloadable app for Apple iPad.
Airspace by Airbus
The Portuguese airline will also be the first to take a new cabin layout called "Airspace". The design allows airlines to add more seats.
Frequent flyer program
Portugal's current TAP Air loyalty program is Victoria , which rewards mile members based on distance traveled, ticket fares, and service classes. As part of the Star Alliance, miles can also be obtained from Star Alliance and other eligible partners. Membership in the free Victoria program. Award Miles can be redeemed for free tickets, upgrades to higher service classes, extra luggage allowances, and lounge access. Award Miles can then be donated to charity. The Victoria program is divided into 3 levels:
- Victorian Miles winner, base rate, no mileage requirement.
- Victoria Silver Winner, (Star Alliance Silver), with 30,000 Status Miles or 25 segment requirements flown in one year.
- Victorian Gold Winner (Star Gold Alliance), with the requirements of 70,000 Mil Status or 50 segments flown within a year.
Accidents and incidents
According to JACDEC Airliner Safety Report released in January 2011, TAP Air Portugal is rated as the safest airline in Western Europe and tied for all four worldwide with three other airlines (Qantas, Air New Zealand and Finnair). The JADEC report assesses that Portugal's TAP Air is well ahead of its competitors in its major geographic areas of operation: Europe, the Atlantic Islands, Africa, North America and South America.
- TAP Air Portugal Flight 425: Flight 425 crash at Madeira Airport on 19 November 1977 remains the only fatal accident of TAP Air Portugal. Flight 425 flies to Madeira Airport from Brussels via Lisbon. Boeing 727 crashed on landing on runway 24 in heavy rain. Before the accident, the pilot had made two unsuccessful attempts to land, and decided to make another attempt. The plane landed late and raided the runway which, at the time, was only 1,600 meters (5,200 feet). The plane fell to the shore at the end of the runway, divided into two parts and burned. Of the 164 people boarded up, 131 were killed and 33 survived. This is the second deadliest plane crash in Portugal (after 1851 Independent Air Flight). The accident prompted officials to explore how to extend the short runway in Madeira. Due to the height of the runway relative to the coast below, the extension is very difficult and too expensive to do. A 200 m (656 ft) extension was built between 1983 and 1986. In 2000 the runway was extended to 2,781 m (9,124 ft) and capable of handling wide-body commercial jets such as Boeing 747 or Airbus A340.
References
Quote
Bibliography
- Chillon, J., French Postwar Post Aircraft, 1980, Air-Britain (Historian) Ltd, ISBNÃ, 0-85130-078-2.
- Marson, Peter J, The Lockheed Constellation Series, 1982, Air-Britain (Historian) Ltd, ISBNÃ, 0-85130-100-2.
External links
Media related to TAP Air Portugal on Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Corporate TAP
- TAP Victoria
- Up Magazine
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments