Portugal’s national airline, TAP Air Portugal, has identified Brazil and Africa as central to its next phase of growth as the carrier undergoes privatization. Speaking at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, CEO Luis Rodrigues said the airline sees “tremendous untapped potential” in both regions, citing Brazil’s underdeveloped tourism sector, which contributes about 6 percent to GDP compared with Portugal’s 16 percent. TAP currently operates flights to 13 Brazilian cities and 14 African destinations, including Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde, as reported by Reuters.
Rodrigues explained that Africa presents an even greater opportunity for expansion, though it comes with logistical and regulatory challenges. He added that TAP’s diversified network across Europe, North America, South America, and Africa allows the airline to “shift capacity where demand is strongest,” ensuring operational flexibility and resilience. Investing.com reported that the airline’s strategic focus aims to position it as a bridge between Europe and emerging markets.
The expansion plan comes as Portugal’s government revives its privatization process for TAP, offering a 44.9 percent stake to a strategic partner and reserving an additional 5 percent for employees. The restructuring effort is intended to attract new investment, improve profitability, and strengthen TAP’s long-term competitiveness, Bloomberg noted.
Analysts say growth in Brazil and Africa could significantly boost TAP’s revenues, provided it navigates the regulatory and infrastructural hurdles that characterize many African markets. The airline’s renewed international focus marks a shift toward leveraging historic and linguistic ties to drive sustainable expansion.
