SFO welcomes TAP Air Portugal’s nonstop flights between Lisbon and San Francisco

With 71 New Jet Deliveries Planned Through 2025, TAP’s Fleet Reaches 100 Aircraft for the First Time as the Airline Adds New Routes this Month from SFO, Chicago O’Hare and Washington-Dulles

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 2019-Jun-12 — /Travel PR News/ — TAP Air Portugal introduces five weekly nonstop flights between Lisbon and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) today, operated with a brand new Airbus A330neo.

TAP, the launch carrier for the A330neo, has 71 new aircraft planned for delivery by 2025, adding to its existing 100-aircraft-strong fleet.  This month, TAP also launches service from Chicago O’Hare and Washington-Dulles.

The SFO flights will operate Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, from June 10, departing SFO on at 4:10 pm, and arriving in Lisbon at 11:25 am the following morning.   Returning flights leave Lisbon at 10:00 am, arriving into SFO at 2:40 pm.

“We are proud that TAP Air Portugal has selected SFO for its growth plans on the United States West Coast,” said San Francisco International Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. “We share TAP Air Portugal’s passion for making air travel an enjoyable experience, and travelers in the San Francisco Bay Area can look forward to an easy and economical new way to travel to Portugal and beyond.”

“TAP’s new SFO flights are the only nonstops from the Bay Area to Lisbon,” said David Neeleman, founder of JetBlue Airways and a major shareholder in TAP. “But these are also the only year-round nonstops from California to Portugal.  TAP now serves some 75 destinations in Europe and Africa and fully 50 percent of our American passengers are flying us to places beyond Portugal, many making use of our popular Portugal Stopover program.”

The A330neo will feature the new Airspace by Airbus cabin.   The economy cabin now comprises two categories:  Economy and EconomyXtra. The configuration and design provide a fresh atmosphere, with more legroom, deeper seat recline, and new seat covers in shades of green and gray, and green and red in EconomyXtra.  The seat pitch in regular economy is 31 inches, while Xtra offers an additional three inches’ legroom with a pitch of 34 inches.

In TAP’s Executive business class, TAP offers 34 new fully-flat reclining chairs that are more than six feet long when fully reclined.  Also, TAP has powered up its new business class chairs to include USB slots and individual electrical sockets, connections for headphones, individual reading lights, and more space, including more storage room.

The A330neo aircraft features state of the art personalized entertainment system and connectivity that allows for free messaging.  TAP will be the first European airline to offer web-based messaging on long haul flights free for all passengers.

In TAP’s Executive business class, TAP offers 34 new fully-flat reclining chairs that are more than six feet long when fully reclined.  Also, TAP has powered up its new business class chairs to include USB slots and individual electrical sockets, connections for headphones, individual reading lights, and more space, including more storage room.

TAP introduced the Portugal Stopover program in 2016 to further attract the ‘beyond Lisbon’ guest.   Travelers to all of TAP’s European and African destinations can enjoy up to five nights in Lisbon or Porto along the way, for no extra airfare.

The Portugal Stopover, which was just named “Best Stopover Program” by Global Traveler magazine, comprises a network of more than 150 partners who provide exclusive offers for Stopover customers for hotels discounts and complimentary experiences such as free entry to museums, dolphin watching in the River Sado and food tastings – even a free bottle of Portuguese wine in participating restaurants.

Travelers can also enjoy a stopover in Lisbon or Porto even if their final destination is in Portugal, such as  Faro (Algarve); Ponta Delgada or Terceira (the Azores); and Funchal or Porto Santo (Madeira).

Media Note:

JetBlue Founder and TAP Investor David Neeleman will be available for interview at SFO today about TAP’s new nonstop service to Lisbon.

Please call Gareth Edmondson-Jones on 917.399.9355 to receive gate pass and schedule a one-on-one.

About TAP Air Portugal

TAP is Portugal’s leading airline and a member of the global airline Star Alliance since 2005. Flying since 1945, TAP celebrated its 70th anniversary on March 14, 2015, before completing its privatization process later that year, now with the Atlantic Gateway Group as private shareholders.

TAP’s network comprises some 84 destinations in 34 countries worldwide. The airline currently operates around 2,500 weekly flights, with a modern fleet of 63 Airbus aircraft.  TAP Express, the airline’s regional arm, operates an additional 17 aircraft.

With TAP’s privatization process, it has restructured its network, launched new fare products and is renewing its medium and long-haul fleet.  TAP has 71 new Airbus aircraft on order and, by 2020, it’s long-haul fleet will either have been replaced with new aircraft or newly reconfigured aircraft.  TAP Express now operates a new fleet of 8 ATR 72 and 9 Embraer 190.

TAP is one of Europe’s most awarded airlines.  Global Traveler (USA) named TAP as Best Airline in Europe from 2011 to 2018, and the World Travel Awards named TAP as both Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa and Europe’s Leading Airline to South America from 2014 – 2018. Previously TAP was awarded World’s Leading Airline to Africa, in 2011 and 2012, and World’s Leading Airline to South America from 2009 through 2012.  TAP’s Inflight Magazine, UP, received the World Travel Award as Europe’s Leading In-flight Magazine for 2015, 2016 and 2017.

About San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 50 international cities on 42 international carriers.  The Bay Area’s largest airport connects non-stop with 86 cities in the U.S. on 12 domestic airlines.  SFO is proud to offer upgraded free Wi-Fi with no advertising.  For up-to-the-minute departure and arrival information, airport maps and details on shopping, dining, cultural exhibitions, ground transportation and more, visit www.flysfo.com.  Follow us on www.twitter.com/flysfo and  www.facebook.com/flysfo.

CONTACT:
Doug Yakel
Public Information Officer
External Affairs Office
San Francisco International Airport
650.821.4000
Doug.Yakel@flysfo.com

Source: San Francisco International Airport

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