TAP Sets a Date for Flights to Sao Paulo with the A330neo

While the airline is still in the process of finishing the aircraft’s certification process with the Portuguese aviation authority (ANAC), starting December 15, TAP Air Portugal will begin flying its brand new Airbus A330-900 between Lisbon Portela Airport and Sao Paulo Guarulhos. The carrier will then gradually introduce the aircraft throughout its long-haul network as it works to replace its current wide-body fleet made up by Airbus A330-200s, A330-300s and several four-engine A340-300s.

Last week, TAP Air Portugal received its first A330neo, which is the first of its type in the world. The new and improved version of the Airbus A330 features new, fuel efficient Rolls Royce Trent 7000 engines, along with a larger wingspan made from composite materials and the new Airspace cabin. All of these changes are expected to provide a more comfortable flight experience for passengers, lower fuel burn and improved economics for airlines.

LIS-GRU A330neo Schedule

TAP has 18 weekly frequencies between Lisbon and Sao Paulo, operating the route between two and three times a day. The airline will not be immediately assigning its new aircraft to a specific flight number, but rather will shift throughout the week as it gradually receives more new aircraft.

The world’s first commercial A330neo flight will take off from Lisbon at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday December 15 arriving at Sao Paulo Guarulhos at 18:55 with flight TP089. The plane will remain in the ground for over two hours and then fly back to Lisbon as flight TP088, departing the Brazilian metropolis at 22:25 and arriving at the Portuguese capital at 10:15 local time the following morning.

With flights already loaded into the airline’s reservation systems, the schedule below highlights the various aircraft being used following the launch of the A330neo schedule.

From Lisbon Portela to Sao Paulo Guarulhos

From Sao Paulo Guarulhos to Lisbon Portela

The new, fuel-efficient aircraft will be flying back to Europe as TP88 on Mondays and Thursdays; TP082 on Wednesdays and Sundays and TP084 on Fridays and Tuesdays. Passengers should keep an eye on TAP’s website to see if their is operated by the new aircraft, and bare in mind schedules are prone to last minute changes, specifically in the early days of the A330neo operations.

TAP Portugal has continued to operate in a phase of expansion, enabling the airline to strengthen its hub in Lisbon Portela as a connecting point between The Americas, Europe and beyond. The Portuguese airline is also promoting its Stopover program, allowing transiting passengers to break up their journey and stay up to five days in the Portuguese capital at no extra cost.

The carrier has 71 aircraft on order from Airbus, made up from a mixture of A320neos, A321LRs and A330-900s, that would make its fleet the youngest in the world by 2025. The carrier has already announced new flights to Washington DC and Chicago with their new A330-900 set to commence in June of next year, and is expected to announce flights with San Francisco soon. Along with the use of the A321LR, which is expected to begin deliveries next year, the carrier expects to double capacity in North America by the end of next year.

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Jose Antonio Payet

As a geography nerd, Jose has always been fascinated by the complexities of the airline industry and its ability to bring the world closer together. Born and raised in Peru, now studying in the UK. he has travelled around America, Europe and South East Asia. His favorite aircraft is the Boeing 767-300, which he has flown many times during his childhood; although now the A350 is slowly growing up on him.

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