NEW YORK, July 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Almost 70,000 TAP Air Portugal travelers have enjoyed visits to Lisbon and Porto while en route to destinations in Portugal and throughout Europe and Africa since the airline launched the program one year ago. Now the popular Portugal Stopover program is expanding to include longer visits, of up to five days, for no additional airfare.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49561ac7-95ba-4fe3-ba1c-f0f1c03a34e0.
To commemorate the first anniversary of the Portugal Stopover program, this week TAP unveiled one of its A330-300 aircraft with a new special Stopover-themed livery, highlighting many popular icons of a visit to Portugal. This aircraft will begin service between Portugal and North America in the weeks to come.
TAP unveiled its stopover offer in July 2016, to encourage TAP’s long-haul customers transiting through Lisbon or Porto to stay for up to three days for no additional airfare. The longer 5-day stopover option is available for visits starting in September, 2017.
The program still incorporates a network of more than 150 partners offering exclusive hotel discounts for stopover customers, a free bottle of Portuguese wine in restaurants, and free experiences, such as tuk-tuk rides, visits to museums, or even dolphin watching in the River Sado.
“70,000 visitors have told us they love the Portugal Stopover but we kept hearing that three days wasn’t enough to truly experience Lisbon or Porto,” said Carlos Paneiro, Vice President of Sales for North and Central America. “Now with five days, visitors can enjoy a more leisurely visit to really get to know what these wonderful cities have to offer.”
Also from September, stopover passengers will be able to create a multi-destination journey, making it will be possible to travel from one destination and return from another. For example, people may choose to fly to Barcelona then return from Seville but they will still qualify for a stopover in Lisbon or Porto on the outbound or return travel. Stopover visits are now also available on one-way travel to Europe or Africa where previously round-trip travel was necessary to qualify for the program.
In February, TAP added several Portugal areas as destinations which also qualify for the stopover, including the Algarve, Madeira and the Azores. Travelers can now visit Lisbon or Porto for up to five day en route to Faro, Ponta Delgada, Terceira, Funchal and Porto Santo for no extra airfare.
TAP currently operates 2,500 flights per week to 84 destinations in 34 countries. This means that, from the USA, Canada and Brazil, TAP clients can now fly to more than 70 destinations, with a Lisbon or Porto stopover experience along the way.
About TAP Portugal
TAP is Portugal’s leading airline, and member of Star Alliance, the global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach, since 2005. In operation since 1945, TAP celebrated 70 years on March 14, 2015, and completed its privatization process in 2015, with the Atlantic Gateway Group now as a new private shareholder. TAP’s hub in Lisbon is a key European gateway at the crossroads of Africa, North, Central and South America, where TAP stands out as the international leading carrier in operation to Brazil. As of Summer 2017, the company’s network will comprise 84 destinations in 34 countries worldwide. TAP currently operates about 2,500 weekly flights in average on a modern fleet of 63 Airbus aircraft and 17 aircraft in TAP Express livery, operating in the company’s regional network, adding up to an 80 aircraft fleet in the whole.
Within the vast restructure program currently going across the company as the outcome of its privatization process, TAP restructured its network, launched new fare products and has announced, among other news, its medium and long haul fleet renewal program as of 2018 and the retrofit of the fleet currently in operation as well as the launch of the new branded product TAP Express, which replaced PGA and operates a new fleet of 8 ATR 72 and 9 Embraer 190.
In the pursuit of its customer-focused policy, TAP continuously strives to deliver safe, reliable and upgraded products & services, tailored to meet customers’ expectations. Retaining the Portuguese character of the Company’s brand and quality service as the basic concept has been the main driver of TAP strategy in most recent years. Recognized and awarded as the Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa as well as Europe’s Leading Airline to South America by the World Travel Awards in 2016, 2015 and 2014, the company was also awarded as the WTA World’s Leading Airline to Africa in 2011 and 2012 and the WTA World’s Leading Airline to South America in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, while the company’s In-flight magazine UP also received the WTA award as Europe’s Leading In-flight Magazine in 2015 and 2016. Voted Best Airline in Europe in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 by the Global Traveler, USA, the company was also honored by UNESCO and by the International Union of Geological Sciences with the IYPE “Planet Earth Award 2010”, in the category of “Most Innovative Sustainable Product”. TAP was also voted Best Airline by Condé Nast Traveller Magazine in 2010 and Best Portuguese Tourism Company by the specialized magazine Marketeer, in 2011.