New York, NY (October 25, 2017) – TAP Air Portugal, the 72 year-old Portuguese national carrier, on Friday, flew passengers from Lisbon to Newark via the 70s! The A330 aircraft had been painted in the livery design the airline used from the mid 1950s to mid 70s.
The “retro flight” might have felt like taking a trip back through the 70s for passengers. The cabin crew wore the airline’s most emblematic uniforms, designed by French stylist Louis Féraud. And even the interior of the cabin, the headrests, meals and even the in-flight entertainment have all been remade, in 70s style.
The classic image chosen for this aircraft recreates the original ‘Transportes Aéreos Portugueses’ typography in the colors which were first displayed on a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, received by TAP in July of 1955. The last aircraft in this livery was a Boeing 727-200.
Today, TAP has a fleet of 53 new aircraft on order for delivery starting in 2018, including 14 A330-900 neo aircraft, and 39 A320 neo family aircraft also. The airline is expanding capacity as it opens new routes.
The retro flight experience also comes at a time when more people than ever are flying TAP. The airline is breaking its own travel records monthly and has doubled traffic from the USA in the last year. In 2017, network-wide, TAP has flown some 2 million more passengers than in the same period last year.
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.
As of Summer 2017, TAP’s network comprises 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 53 Airbus neo 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 2016, 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 – 2017. 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.
