On Friday, March 14, TAP Air Portugal celebrated its 80th anniversary with a series of initiatives that highlight its rich history and evolution in the aviation sector. Founded in 1945 by Humberto Delgado, the Portuguese national airline conducted its first regular commercial flight on September 19, 1946, connecting Lisbon and Madrid aboard a DC-3 Dakota. Today, 80 years later, TAP has established itself as Portugal’s main ambassador worldwide and is one of the country’s three largest exporters, transporting over 16 million passengers in 2024.

With a modern fleet of 99 aircraft, the airline plans to operate more than 1,250 weekly flights this summer, connecting 84 cities globally, including 10 in North America, 14 in South America, 12 in Africa, and 42 in Europe.

Among the highlights are new flights between Lisbon and Los Angeles, the inaugural route between Porto and Boston, and the connection between Terceira Island in the Azores and San Francisco. Additionally, TAP will resume its flights to Porto Alegre in Brazil. TAP has been recognized as the safest airline in Europe and the eleventh safest in the world according to Airline Ratings in 2025. This is a testament to the airline’s commitment to safety and quality of service.

Luís Rodrigues, CEO of TAP, expressed pride in celebrating this historic milestone:

“Over these eight decades, TAP has evolved from a small company with two airplanes to becoming a reference in global aviation. This journey has been made possible by the dedication of thousands of workers and the trust of our clients and partners.”
“We want to thank everyone who is part of this story – workers, passengers, and partners – and we hope the coming years bring even more achievements and successes.”

With this celebration, TAP Air Portugal reaffirms its commitment to remain a bridge between continents and a national pride symbol worldwide.