TAP Air Portugal Plans Expansion in North America
TAP Air Portugal is preparing to enhance its presence in North America and strengthen its airline partnerships as part of a comprehensive strategy to improve connectivity and customer offerings. Henri-Charles Ozarovsky, the group’s head of strategy, shared insights into TAP’s ambitions during an interview with Aviation Week.
The airline aims to bolster its long-haul schedules, particularly in the U.S. and Canada, where it anticipates healthy growth. Currently, TAP serves nine destinations in the region, including key Star Alliance partner hubs in Chicago, Montreal, Newark, San Francisco, Toronto Pearson, and Washington Dulles. Additionally, the airline flies to Miami, Boston, and New York JFK, all of which are major bases for various codeshare partners.
Ozarovsky noted, “Our aim is to continue growing our product so we can at one point offer daily services in existing markets, like Chicago and San Francisco, which will benefit our customers.” He emphasized the airline’s commitment to evaluating destinations and leveraging partnerships to capture increasing one-stop demand. “We’ll keep a close watch on these markets and, as they grow, we have data to consider expanding our network to diversify our revenue,” he added.
During the peak summer 2024 season, TAP offered approximately 43,200 two-way weekly seats between Portugal and North America, marking a 41% increase compared to summer 2019 levels. Overall, carriers serving the North American market provided about 104,000 nonstop weekly seats, reflecting a 43% increase from 2019.
When discussing potential new markets, Ozarovsky stated, “We are always evaluating existing and new markets in future seasons and we will consider a possible move if the right opportunity presents itself.” However, he clarified that further expansion will depend on fleet capacity, noting that TAP’s current fleet limit is set at 99 aircraft as part of the conditions established by the European Commission during the airline’s restructuring plan approved in December 2021.
Several major North American destinations remain unserved with nonstop flights from Portugal, including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, and Vancouver, as well as Mexico City, which attracts significant indirect flows.
TAP’s planned enhancements in North America are part of a broader strategy to deepen its network and airline partnerships across key regions. Ozarovsky acknowledged the airline’s strong foundation in Brazil but emphasized the need for improved one-stop connectivity to Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.
“We’re looking at improved codeshare agreements with airlines in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, and other parts of Central and South America,” he noted, highlighting the importance of these partnerships for TAP’s growth. “Such partnerships are crucial for airlines, but they take time to develop.”
In addition to its focus on North and South America, TAP is also exploring potential partnerships in Asia and Africa. “Partnerships are essential for us to increase the depth and breadth of our network,” Ozarovsky concluded. “They have a halo effect on our brand and are a key part of our strategy moving forward.”
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, TAP Air Portugal