Summary
- TAP Air Portugal now serves the southern Brazilian city of Florianópolis.
- After an eight-year absence, Manaus will return in November.
- In that winter month, TAP will have 87 weekly flights to 12 Brazilian airports.
TAP Air Portugal has inaugurated the first-ever flights from Europe to the southern Brazilian city of Florianópolis. The service from Lisbon is the Star Alliance member’s second-longest route by distance (after San Francisco) and number one for the Airbus A330-200. It partly exists because the carrier’s flights to Porto Alegre, located around six hours away by car, ended in 2023 due to that area’s catastrophic floods.
Booking data suggests that around 138,000 people flew between Europe and Florianópolis last year, with most people connecting in São Paulo. Of course, Lisbon was the largest market, followed by Milan, London, Paris, and Rome. TAP is well-positioned to capitalize on the demand.
Olá, Florianópolis!
History was made on September 3 when TAP began the first flights from Europe to Florianópolis. Operated three times weekly on the relatively low-premium 269-seat A330-200, the route covers 4,547 nautical miles (8,421 km) each way.
The first roundtrip deployed 16.5-year-old CS-TOO, a frame that has only ever been with TAP. I am sure the new service will make it into my next jam-packed weekly routes article!
The brand-new route is scheduled as follows, with all times local. The inconsistent times must be due to Lisbon’s chronic slot shortage. Still, they are fine for connectivity across Europe, with arrival times back home being amid the airline’s largest bank of incoming flights from Brazil.
- Lisbon-Florianópolis: TP109, 10:10-17:15 (11h 5m block); 10:40-17:45 (11h 5m); 10:50-17:55 (11h 15m)
- Florianópolis-Lisbon: TP110, 19:35-09:50+1 (10h 15m); 20:15-10:30+1 (10h 15m); 20:40-10:55+1 (10h 15m)
Photo: TAP Air Portugal
An interesting potential complication is that Florianópolis’ runway is only 7,874 feet (2,400 meters) long, which could impact take-off performance with a heavy payload amid high temperatures. However, the airport is pretty much at sea level, which will help with the performance.
Another Brazilian destination is coming
Right now, TAP serves 11 Brazilian airports. However, that will rise to 12 when Manaus returns to its network on November 4 after an eight-year absence.
While it previously deployed the A330-200 non-stop from Lisbon, it will be on the 171-seat A321LR this time. It will be served on a one-stop basis via Belém, covering 3,940 nautical miles (7,296 km) each way. It will take 11h 45m to reach Manaus.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
For context, it will cover about the same one-way distance as London Heathrow to Denver non-stop. It will be TAP’s longest LR-operated service and among the world’s longest links on the A321.
87 weekly Brazil flights in November
As of September 4 and subject to change, TAP plans 87 weekly Portugal-Brazil flights in mid-November, with up to 14 daily flights. Its network will be as follows. (To avoid double-counting, only non-stop flights are counted.)
- Lisbon-São Paulo Guarulhos: triple daily A330neo
- Lisbon-Rio de Janeiro Galeão: double daily A330neo
- Lisbon-Recife: 10 weekly A330-200/A321LR/A330neo
- Lisbon-Fortaleza: daily A330neo
- Lisbon-Natal: daily A321LR (some flights continue to Maceió; see below)
- Lisbon-Salvador: daily A330-200/A321LR
- Lisbon-Belo Horizonte: six weekly A330neo
- Lisbon-Brasilia: six weekly A330neo
- Lisbon-Belém: six weekly A321LR (some flights continue to Manaus; see below)
- Lisbon-Florianópolis: three weekly A330-200 (started on September 3)
- Lisbon-Manaus (via Belém): three weekly A321LR (begins on November 4)
- Lisbon-Maceió (via Natal): three weekly A321LR
- Porto-São Paulo Guarulhos: three weekly A330neo
- Porto-Rio de Janeiro Galeão: twice-weekly A330neo