TAP Air Portugal is looking to its northern base in Porto, as it strengthens its operations at the airport.
TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320.
Routes and Networks
For this winter, TAP is offering 135 direct flights per week from Porto to destinations, including 13 weekly flights to four intercontinental destinations: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, New York and Luanda.
This will scale up further in the summer, when new routes to Terceira and Praia (Cape Verde) will come into operation from 1 July, flying three times weekly.
Meanwhbilke for Winter 2026, the Porto–Boston connection will change from a seasonal service to an all-year-round operation. In addition, Porto will have direct flights to Tel Aviv, with four weekly frequencies.
In its strategic plan for the next three years, TAP also plans to launch other new intercontinental routes, which will be announced in due course, and to increase frequencies on several existing routes.
Maintenance and Engineering
While work is going on with the network, the airline is investing heavily at the airport, with TAP investing in the construction of a new Maintenance and Engineering Hub at Porto Airport, with capacity for two A321 aircraft or similar.
This project, scheduled for completion in 2028, represents a step in TAP’s growth strategy in the region, allowing it to internalise major fleet inspections, reduce operating costs and create around 200 highly specialised jobs.
In Quotes
Luís Rodrigues, CEO of TAP Air Portugal, stated:
“This is a new moment for TAP and for Northern Portugal. We are strengthening our intercontinental operations and investing in critical infrastructure, ensuring more options for our customers and more opportunities for the regional economy. TAP is committed to the North like never before.”
Thierry Ligonnière, CEO of ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, stated that
“the signing of this memorandum with TAP Air Portugal expresses our joint commitment to the North and to the future of Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, strengthening Porto’s connection to the world and investing in the country’s aeronautical maintenance. ANA|VINCI Airports will remain committed to the quality of service that has distinguished the airport and to structural investments — such as the refurbishment of the runway, worth over €50 million — which prepare the airport and our customers for a future of greater connectivity and growth.”
Building capacities
TAP Air Portugal is working on its capacities – both in its network and its maintenance arms, as it seeks to strengthen itself and its operations in the north of Portugal
With other airlines slowly circling around TAP, as it is set to be privatised (again), with the three big European aviation groups sniffing around. By having further ground facilities to reduce costs, it will offer more options to the buyers, as well as a well-planned set of routes, TAP should be able to market that as a benefit.
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