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TAP Air Portugal (TP) Guide

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Flights from Lisbon and Porto to Europe, Brazil, North America and Africa, fleet and cabins, baggage, check-in and how to find cheaper TAP fares. Ask a question
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In short

TAP Air Portugal is the flag carrier of Portugal, based at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport with Porto as a second hub. Its all-Airbus fleet flies to about 87 destinations in Europe, Brazil, North America and Africa, and Lisbon is a common stop between Europe and Brazil. TAP is in Star Alliance and runs TAP Miles&Go. Cabins are Executive business and Economy.

TAP Air Portugal is Portugal’s national airline and a Star Alliance member since 2005, flying an all-Airbus fleet.

Please note: bookingMentor is an independent travel service and is not affiliated with TAP Air Portugal. Routes, schedules and baggage rules change, so always confirm the details of your booking with the airline.

What to expect

TAP Air Portugal (IATA TP) is the flag carrier of Portugal, headquartered at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport. From Lisbon, Porto and Madeira it flies to about 87 destinations in Europe, Africa, North America and South America. It is a Star Alliance member and the leading European airline to Brazil, which makes Lisbon a practical stop between Europe and the South Atlantic.

Founding in 1945 and the first Lisbon to Madrid flight

Transportes Aéreos Portugueses was founded on 14 March 1945 and flew its first commercial service, Lisbon to Madrid, on 19 September 1946. It became a public company in 1953 and was nationalised in 1975 after the 1974 revolution.

TAP joined Star Alliance on 14 March 2005, sixty years to the day after it was founded. In 2018 it became the launch customer for the Airbus A330neo, the A330-900, which now forms the core of its long-haul fleet.

Ownership: privatised, renationalised and sold again

TAP's ownership has changed several times in a decade. In 2015 the Atlantic Gateway group of David Neeleman and Humberto Pedrosa bought 61 per cent. A new deal in February 2016 gave the state 50 per cent, Atlantic Gateway 45 per cent and employees 5 per cent. In 2020 the state took the airline back and approved 1.2 billion euros of loans as the pandemic hit.

The government announced a new privatisation in September 2022. Air France-KLM made a bid for 49 per cent in February 2025, and Lufthansa and IAG also showed interest, though IAG later withdrew. On 14 October 2026 the government chose Lufthansa's bid for up to 49.9 per cent. Flights carry on as normal while the sale is completed.

Lisbon, Porto and the network

Lisbon is the main hub and Porto the second, with Madeira as a focus airport. TAP has more Brazilian destinations from Lisbon than any other European airline and holds many slots at Brazilian airports, so it is often the simplest way between Brazil and much of Europe. It also has a long-standing network to Portuguese-speaking Africa and flies to cities in North America.

Regional routes are flown as TAP Express with Embraer jets. Lisbon's position at the western edge of Europe means many Europe to Brazil itineraries can be made with one short connection there.

Passenger numbers and revenue

TAP carried 16.1 million passengers in 2024, up from 15.9 million in 2023. In 2023 it reported revenue of 4.2 billion euros and net income of 177 million euros. It employed about 7,900 people in 2024, and Luís Rodrigues is chief executive.

Flying TAP through Lisbon

Connections at Lisbon between Schengen and non-Schengen flights involve passport control. Allow more than the minimum connection time on a Brazil or North America itinerary.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
TAP official website

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  1. TAP official website
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Good to know

  • Founded1945
  • Other gatewaysOPO / FNC
  • Online check-inYes

Everything you should know

Airline codes

TP · TAP

IATA · ICAO · callsign “AIR PORTUGAL”

Every TAP flight number begins with TP. Flight-tracking sites and air traffic control use the ICAO code TAP, and the radio callsign is AIR PORTUGAL.

Key facts

Main hub

Lisbon (LIS)

Humberto Delgado Airport

Also flies abroad fromPorto (OPO) · Funchal, Madeira (FNC)

Network

About 87 destinations

Europe · Brazil · North America · Africa

TAP is the leading European airline to Brazil and a key link to Portuguese-speaking Africa, with growing routes to North America.

Destinations

Cabin classes

Economy

and Executive (Business)

Business (tap|executive, lie-flat on long-haul) and Economy, sold as Discount, Basic, Classic and Plus. No first class.

Compare cabins

Good to know

TAP was renationalised in 2020 and the Portuguese government has moved to sell a minority stake, with Air France-KLM and Lufthansa among the bidders. TAP offers free stopovers in Lisbon or Porto on transatlantic trips. Official website: flytap.com.

Frequent flyer

TAP Miles&Go

Member of Star Alliance

TAP is a Star Alliance member; its programme is TAP Miles&Go.

How it works

Start a new search

Search your dates on bookingMentor to see TAP next to the other airlines flying from Lisbon, then pick the fare that suits your trip.

Enjoy your TAP flight!

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At a glance

TAP Air Portugal (IATA: TP, ICAO: TAP) is the flag carrier of Portugal, founded in 1945 and based at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport, with Porto as a second hub. A Star Alliance member, it flies about 97 Airbus aircraft to around 87 destinations in Europe, Brazil, North America and Africa.

Key facts about TAP Air Portugal
HeadquartersLisbon, Portugal
Fleet typesAirbus A330-900, A330-200, A321LR, A321neo, A321, A320neo, A320, A319
Frequent flyerTAP Miles&Go
Official websiteflytap.com

Flight routes

Destinations and routes

Direct routes
TAP serves the places below according to its published network. Routes are added, paused and rescheduled, so confirm the current TAP timetable when you search. Search flights

Portugal

Lisbon (LIS) departures4 destinations

Check all

Fleet and aircraft

97 Airbus aircraft in service and 18 on order, including 13 long-range A321LRs and 19 A330-900s (TAP was the A330neo launch customer in 2018). TAP Express flies Embraer jets on regional routes.

  • Airbus A330-900neo Wide-body · 19 Brazil, North America and Africa
  • Airbus A330-200 Wide-body · 3 Long-haul routes
  • Airbus A321LR Narrow-body · 13 Thinner transatlantic routes
  • Airbus A321neo Narrow-body Busy European routes
  • Airbus A321 Narrow-body Busy European routes
  • Airbus A320neo Narrow-body European and domestic routes
  • Airbus A320 Narrow-body European and domestic routes
  • Airbus A319 Narrow-body European and domestic routes

Cabin classes

Two cabins.

Economy All flights

Discount, Basic, Classic and Plus fares

Seat selectionMeals on long-haulChecked bag on Classic and Plus

Executive (Business) All flights

Flat beds on the A330neo

Lounge accessPriority servicesExtra baggage

TAP Miles&Go

TAP Miles&Go is TAP’s frequent flyer scheme, and you can sign up on flytap.com.

Miles&Go replaced the Victoria programme. Silver needs 30,000 status miles or 25 segments a year; Gold needs 70,000 status miles or 50 segments. TAP flights also earn in Star Alliance programmes.

Baggage allowance

On TAP, the bag allowance follows your fare type, cabin and route, and the exact figure is printed on your TP e-ticket.

Checked baggage
On your e-ticket
Cabin baggage
Depends on fare
Extra bags
Cheaper before you fly
Power banks
Cabin bag only

TAP’s lowest Economy fares in Europe include only hand baggage; Classic and Plus include a checked bag. Long-haul fares include baggage. Check your e-ticket.

Pro tip: on a stopover in Lisbon, you can keep your bags checked through to your final destination if both flights are on one ticket.
Travel day

Online Check-in

Here is the order to follow for a TP flight: check in, sort your documents, meet the airport deadline and drop your bags.

  • Online check-in available
  1. Step 1

    Check in online

    Use flytap.com or app to check in for eligible flights. Have your TAP booking reference or e-ticket number and your surname ready.

    Booking ref + surname
  2. Step 2

    Prepare your documents

    International TAP passengers need a passport and whatever visa, residence permit or entry documents the destination requires. Domestic TP passengers should bring a photo ID the airline accepts.

    Passport · visa · ID
  3. Step 3

    Arrive early

    Each airport has its own TAP check-in and bag-drop deadline, listed in your booking. Allow extra time for busy terminals and international TP departures.

    Well before departure
  4. Step 4

    Drop your bags

    Hand in checked luggage at the TAP counter or bag drop, then keep your boarding pass and passport ready for security and the gate.

    TAP counter
Ready to check in? Check in and manage your booking on the official TAP website.
Check in with TAP
Save money

Cheap tickets

A few booking habits that tend to cut the cost of flying TAP.

  1. 01

    Try midweek TP flights

    TAP fares are often lower on midweek departures. Search a spread of dates around your trip to find the cheaper days.

    Midweek flights
  2. 02

    Avoid peak seasons

    Summer and Christmas are the busiest times, especially on routes to Brazil.

    Summer & Christmas
  3. 03

    Check what each TAP fare includes

    A TAP fare that includes a checked bag, seat choice or cheaper changes can cost less overall than adding those extras later.

    Baggage & changes
  4. 04

    Add a free stopover

    TAP’s stopover programme lets you spend a few nights in Lisbon or Porto on transatlantic trips.

    Lisbon · Porto

  5. Ready to compare fares?

    Search TAP alongside every other airline on your route, with flexible dates.

    Search TAP flights

Reviews and questions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything travellers ask before flying TAP Air Portugal.
We check these TAP answers with the airline’s own sources and aviation references every season.

General

TAP Air Portugal has been a member of Star Alliance since 2005. You can earn and spend miles on partner airlines such as Lufthansa, United Airlines and Turkish Airlines, and Star Alliance status gives lounge and priority benefits on eligible flights.