TAP Express (TAP standing for Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) is a Portuguese virtual carrier and regional airline brand name for TAP Air Portugal which operates short and medium-haul routes. Its head office is on the grounds of Lisbon Portela Airport in Lisbon. Currently, Portugália Airlines operates under the TAP Express brand.[1][2]
History
On 14 January 2016, TAP Portugal announced that Portugália Airlines, its regional subsidiary, would be rebranded TAP Express as of 27 March 2016, as part of the restructuring measures within the group, even though the company still operates as a wholly owned company of TAP Air Portugal. Mainline carriers often use regional airlines to operate services in order to increase frequency, serve routes that would not sustain larger aircraft, or for other competitive reasons.
Also on 14 January 2016, TAP Air Portugal also announced that the entire Portugália fleet consisting of