Summary
- TAP Air Portugal focuses on the US market by optimizing high-frequency routes for a diverse set of travelers.
- Key routes like EWR-LIS cater to business traffic and the Portuguese expatriate community.
- TAP’s fleet efficiency, high-frequency routes, and strategic market reach give it a competitive edge in the transatlantic sector.
TAP Air Portugal
continues to strengthen its transatlantic network, with a focus on the United States as an integral part of its strategy. As of September 2024, the airline operates numerous routes connecting major US cities with Portugal, particularly Lisbon and Porto.
Photo: Rebius | Shutterstock
With efficient aircraft and a competitive offering, TAP is well-positioned to serve a diverse set of travelers, from leisure to business. We’re examining the airline’s US route network, using the latest data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.
TAP Air Portugal’s US routes in September 2024
The following table provides an overview of TAP’s US route network, including the weekly operations, seat capacity, available seat miles (ASMs) for each route, and the aircraft that fly them. These metrics help highlight the airline’s strategic focus on high-frequency routes and capacity optimization.
|
Route |
Miles |
Weekly Ops (round-trip) |
Total Seats |
Seats per Departure |
ASMs (Available Seat Miles) |
Aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
EWR – LIS (Newark – Lisbon) |
3,385 |
122 |
27,862 |
228.4 |
94,312,870 |
Airbus A330-900, A321neo |
|
BOS – LIS (Boston – Lisbon) |
3,192 |
120 |
24,580 |
204.8 |
78,459,360 |
Airbus A330-900, A321neo |
|
IAD – LIS (Washington – Lisbon) |
3,592 |
118 |
19,824 |
168.0 |
71,207,808 |
Airbus A321neo |
|
MIA – LIS (Miami – Lisbon) |
4,157 |
86 |
25,164 |
292.6 |
104,606,748 |
Airbus A330-200, A330-900 |
|
JFK – LIS (New York – Lisbon) |
3,367 |
60 |
17,706 |
295.1 |
59,616,102 |
Airbus A330-900 |
|
EWR – OPO (Newark – Porto) |
3,340 |
58 |
9,744 |
168.0 |
32,544,960 |
Airbus A321neo |
|
SFO – LIS (San Francisco – Lisbon) |
5,681 |
50 |
14,900 |
298.0 |
84,646,900 |
Airbus A330-900 |
|
ORD – LIS (Chicago – Lisbon) |
4,009 |
44 |
12,706 |
288.8 |
50,938,354 |
Airbus A330-900 |
*TAP connecting flights may deploy different aircraft like the A319, A320neo and A321neo on shorter routes.
Data sourced from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.
Key US routes and their operational strengths
Newark (EWR) – Lisbon (LIS)
Newark Liberty International Airport
is TAP’s busiest US route, with 122 monthly operations. This high frequency allows TAP to cater to the significant demand from business travelers and the large Portuguese expatriate community in the tri-state area. The 27,862 seats offered on this route also give TAP a competitive edge against United Airlines, which operates similar services on this route.
Photo: Lukas Wunderlich | Shutterstock
TAP currently splits the duties for this route between their Airbus A330-900 and A321neo aircraft.
Boston (BOS) – Lisbon (LIS)
Boston Logan International Airport
is another key destination for TAP, operating 120 flights in September with a total of 24,580 seats. TAP targets a diverse mix of passengers here, including leisure travelers, students, and professionals. Flying its Airbus A330-900 and A321neo aircraft, TAP maintains a flexible service while competing against Delta Air Lines on this popular transatlantic route.
Miami (MIA) – Lisbon (LIS)
Miami International Airport
to Lisbon is a vital route, especially for leisure travelers and the Portuguese-speaking community in Florida. With 86 September flights and 25,164 seats, this route benefits from high seat capacity per flight (292.6 seats), made possible by deploying larger widebody aircraft like the Airbus A330-200 and A330-900.
Photo: TAP Portugal
TAP only really has to compete with codeshares and one-stop connecting flights on this route.
Washington Dulles (IAD) – Lisbon (LIS)
Washington Dulles International Airport
sees 118 operations in September, offering 19,824 seats. The passenger demographic on this route typically includes government officials, diplomats, and business travelers. TAP’s deployment of mid-range capacity, with its A321neo fleet, is aimed at balancing demand while ensuring steady load factors on this key political and business route in direct competition with United Airlines and its Boeing 767-400s.
San Francisco (SFO) – Lisbon (LIS)
As
TAP’s longest US route
, the
San Francisco International Airport
to Lisbon connection spans 5,681 miles and operates with 50 flights this September. Despite the long distance, TAP offers a total of 14,900 seats, making use of the A330-900’s efficiency on longer routes. The city’s thriving tech industry aligns well with TAP’s strategy, with Lisbon emerging as a European tech hub.
Codeshares and one-stop flights between these destinations are some of the only competition TAP faces here.
TAP’s competitive advantages in the US market
TAP Air Portugal faces competition from major US airlines like United, Delta, and American, but the carrier has several distinct advantages that make it a strong contender in the transatlantic market:
- Fleet Efficiency: TAP’s use of its Airbus fleet of A330s and A321s gives it an edge in fuel efficiency and capacity flexibility, allowing the airline to optimize costs on both long-haul and shorter transatlantic routes.
- High-Frequency Routes: With over 100 flights per month on its busiest routes (Newark and Boston), TAP provides ample travel options for passengers, making it a convenient choice for both business and leisure travelers.
- Wide Market Reach: TAP’s network extends across both the East and West Coasts of the US, ensuring it serves key markets like New York, Miami, Washington, and San Francisco.
- Targeted Capacity: By adjusting seat capacity per route (ranging from 168 to 298 seats), TAP maximizes load factors and aligns with market demand.
- Growing Presence: With continued growth in key markets like Miami and newer long-haul routes like San Francisco, TAP remains a growing force in the transatlantic sector.