TAP’s $73 Million Fleet Upgrades Now Offer Full Flat Seats in Business Class and More Comfort in Economy

NEW YORK, March 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAP Portugal is investing more than $73 million in a new onboard cabin for the airline’s A330 fleet. Seven A330s will be retrofitted by the end of the year. The first A330 to be completed, named João Gonçalves Zarco, has commenced flying between the U.S. and Lisbon this week. 

This A330 upgrade program represents TAP’s commitment to improving comfort and improving its onboard product for passengers in all classes, bringing the cabins into line with that of the A330neo, which will soon be joining the fleet.

TAP’s proud Portuguese identity is recognizable through the aircraft interior, thanks to partnerships with Portuguese companies such as Almadesign, which selected the materials and developed the finishing, and with Couro Azul, which supplied the leather used in the Executive class seats.

New Comfort in Economy Class

The economy cabin now comprises two categories: Economy and Economy Plus. The configuration and design provide a fresh atmosphere, with more legroom, deeper seat recline, and new seat covers in shades of green and grey in Economy, and green and red in Economy Plus.

More Modern and Comfortable Executive Class

In Executive Class, the changes are even more pronounced, with 25 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, tables with storage space, and supports for bottles. 

Video of the cabin retrofit is available at: https://youtu.be/jEf9ts1UYI4

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 new private shareholders of its share capital. TAP 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. During the current IATA Summer period, the company’s network will comprise 76 destinations in 29 countries worldwide. TAP currently operates about 2,500 weekly flights in average on a modern fleet of 61 Airbus aircraft and 17 aircraft operating in TAP Express livery, TAP regional branded product, adding up to a 78 aircraft fleet. As of June 2016, the company took delivery of two additional A330s, thus increasing its fleet to 80 aircraft in total. Within the vast restructure program currently going across the company as the outcome of its privatization process, TAP has announced its Network restructure, its medium and long haul fleet renewal program as of 2017 and the retrofit of the fleet currently in operation as well as the launch of the new branded product TAP Express, which replaces PGA and operates a new fleet of 8 ATR 72 and 9 Embraer 190. In the pursuit of its customer-focused policy, TAP continuously invests 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 Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa as well as Europe’s Leading Airline to South America by the World Travel Awards in 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. Voted Best Airline in Europe in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and again in 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, Best Portuguese Tourism Company by the specialized magazine Marketeer, in 2011 and also the airline with Best Reputation by the Reputation Institute in 2014, while its Inflight Magazine UP was voted Best European Inflight Magazine by the WTA awards in 2015 .

For further information, please go to www.flytap.com.

Media contact:
Gareth Edmondson-Jones
GEJ, Ink
917 399-9355
GEJink@gmail.com