TAP Air Portugal Launches Azores–San Francisco Route

TAP Air Portugal has officially launched a new nonstop service between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Lajes Airport (TER) on the island of Terceira in the Azores. The inaugural flight took off on June 3, 2025, and marked the first direct air link between California and the Azores.

The seasonal weekly flight is operated using a 298-seat Airbus A330-900neo, featuring 34 seats in Business Class, 96 in Economy Xtra (premium economy), and 168 in Economy Class. The flight duration on this westbound route was just over 10 hours, highlighting the connectivity potential of the Azores’ strategic mid-Atlantic location.

This new route serves not only the growing number of tourists discovering the Azores’ natural beauty but also the large Azorean diaspora in North America, particularly in California. The Azores, historically a key transit point across the Atlantic, are home to generations of emigrants who settled in the US and Canada.

In addition to this new TAP route, Azores Airlines already operates flights from Terceira and Ponta Delgada (PDL) to Boston, Toronto, Montreal, and New York-JFK. United Airlines also runs a seasonal service between Newark (EWR) and Ponta Delgada.

TAP Air Portugal is steadily expanding its U.S. network. Recent additions include new nonstops between Lisbon and Los Angeles (LAX) and between Porto and Boston, the latter served by the Airbus A321LR.

This latest route further strengthens transatlantic ties while enhancing travel options to one of Portugal’s most scenic island regions.

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