Latest news and stories about air connectivity in Portugal for expats and residents.
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easyJet views the planned privatisation of TAP as a strategic opening to expand its presence in Lisbon and across Portugal. With the airline operating 96 routes to and from Portuguese airports in 2025, easyJet could deepen low-cost connectivity, increase frequencies on key city-pairs and compete more directly with a newly structured national carrier. The shift promises greater competition, potential downward pressure on fares and improved network connectivity, but also raises questions about airport slot availability, regulatory oversight and how market dynamics will affect legacy and low-cost carriers alike.
Update: New coverage quotes easyJet’s Portugal management saying that TAP’s reprivatisation could free up slots at Lisbon airport and that the airline aims to take up those slots; RTP and Portugal Resident report easyJet sees the change as a concrete growth opportunity in the capital.
TAP Air Portugal is Portugal’s flag-carrier airline, founded in 1945 and based at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport, operating domestic, European and intercontinental routes. For expats it matters because TAP runs many of the main connections to Portugal (including transatlantic routes), so its schedules, fares and operational decisions directly affect relocation, visits and shipping of household goods.
Airport slots are time-limited permissions to take off or land at congested airports during specific time windows, managed under national and international rules so capacity is used efficiently. At busy airports where slots are scarce, releases or trades of slots (for example after an airline reduces operations) let other carriers expand routes, which is why easyJet would want slots freed at Lisbon.

RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal) is Portugal's state-owned public service broadcaster, operating since 1935 (radio) and 1957 (television). It runs 8 television channels (including RTP1, RTP2, RTP3) and 7 radio stations (Antena 1, 2, 3), plus international services reaching Portuguese diaspora worldwide. Funded by a broadcasting tax on electricity bills and advertising revenue, RTP serves as Portugal's cultural reference, providing quality news, education, and entertainment. Its archive represents "irreplaceable heritage in Portuguese collective memory", and it pioneered online streaming with RTP Play in 2011. RTP connects "Portugal and the Portuguese to themselves, to each other, and to the world"

The Association of Municipalities regards it as an important step for 'the sustainable development of our island'. Airport expansion is a long-standing ambition, and Grupo Aeroporto do Pico reports operational difficulties.

Canadian airline WestJet is set to strengthen air links between Portugal and Canada this year, with two new direct routes launching from Lisbon and Ponta Delgada. The first connection, linking The post WestJet launches direct flights between Portugal and Canada appeared first on Portugal Resident.

Home News Airport expansion in Portugal Airport expansion in Portugal The Government intends to establish a working group to analyse the future expansion of Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto.
TAP will invest €20 million to build a new maintenance hangar in Porto, a project the carrier says will take about two years and create nearly 200 jobs. The hub is intended to increase TAP's in-house maintenance capacity, reduce reliance on external providers and support new or strengthened routes (reports name Terceira, Praia, Tel Aviv and Boston). Porto residents and jobseekers should watch for recruitment and planning notices; passengers may see improved maintenance resilience and potential route growth over the next two years.
TAP Air Portugal is Portugal’s flag-carrier airline, founded in 1945 and based at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport, operating domestic, European and intercontinental routes. For expats it matters because TAP runs many of the main connections to Portugal (including transatlantic routes), so its schedules, fares and operational decisions directly affect relocation, visits and shipping of household goods.

The funding was provided to support TUI's operations between the Netherlands and the island of Pico, which carried out only 16 flights. The European Union is demanding repayment in full.

Ryanair carried 5% more passengers in 2025 compared with 2024.

Portuguese airline TAP has set a record by carrying over 2 million passengers on routes between Brazil and Portugal, indicating increased demand and strong traffic between the two countries.

Home News New Ryanair Portugal route being launched New Ryanair Portugal route being launched Ryanair has announced the opening of its new 2-aircraft base in Rabat from April ’26, with 20 exciting routes for summer 2026.
