TAP Portugal to open routes to Chicago and Washington next year

TAP Portugal has announced expansion plans for the United States with two new destinations that will enlarge its footprint in the US by 50%

According to US Today, flights from Chicago O’Hare will begin 1 June while a service from Washington Dulles starts 16 June. TAP will fly nonstop to Lisbon from both of its new US cities, offering five flights with brand new A330-900 neo wide body jets on each route.

The expansion is part of a broader strategy that has been rolled out at TAP JetBlue founder David Neeleman became involved by buying a major shareholder in the airline.

Armed with a competitive new business-class cabin that features lie-flat seats TAP is aiming for the skies in the competitive US market.

“It was always our goal to have at least as many destinations in the US as we have in South America. With Washington and Chicago, we’re up to seven and we’re going to be able to — by next summer — make it to 10 which is what we have in Brazil.”

Washington and Chicago give TAP six destinations in the United States, joining Boston, Miami, New York JFK and Newark Liberty. TAP also flies to Toronto in Canada.

Neeleman said more routes would be announced in 2019. “There’s a couple for sure that we’re going to do with a lot of talk about possibilities like San Francisco. The West coast is important for us because there are a lot of Portuguese living in that area. Getting from the West Coast to Lisbon is important as it is an important market for us.”