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| Founded | 25 July 1988 (1988-07-25) | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 7 July 1990 (1990-07-07) | ||||||
| Hubs | Humberto Delgado Airport | ||||||
| Focus cities | Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program |
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| Subsidiaries | PGA Express(2001–2015) | ||||||
| Parent company | TAP Air Portugal | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Portugália Airlines is aPortuguesevirtual carrier andregional airline with its head office on the grounds ofLisbon Portela Airport[1] inLisbon. It was a subsidiary ofTAP Air Portugal and operates scheduled international and domestic services from its bases atLisbon Airport andPorto Airport on behalf ofTAP Express.[2]
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The airline was established on 25 July 1988 as a joint-stock company, but had to wait two years before it could start services, due to a delay in air transport liberalization. It started operations on 7 July 1990 with a flight from Lisbon to Porto. It also flew from Lisbon toFaro that same day. It started operations with scheduled domestic and international charter flights, as scheduled international flights were not then permitted under Portuguese legislation. International scheduled flights started in June 1992 from Lisbon and Porto.
The company's first airplanes wereFokker 100, and since the late 1990s it has also purchased 8Embraer 145, becoming the main competitor of state flag carrierTAP Air Portugal. Operating in the regional market, Portugália focused its operation in domestic routes, as well as on destinations in Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Morocco.
The company's fleet stabilized in 2000 with 14 aircraft (6 Fokker 100 and 8 Embraer 145). Portugália developed its own maintenance services since its earliest days, however it only managed to have its own Hangar and to increase its base maintenance capabilities as of 2005 with the opening of its Hangar atLisbon Portela Airport. Performing most of itsFokker andEmbraer maintenance in house, Portugália managed to significantly improve its results.
Portugália received the title ofBest Regional Airline in Europe in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Skytrax Award for Best Cabin Staff in Europe in 2005 and 2006, and for Best Cabin Staff in Southern Europe in 2007.[3]
On 6 November 2006, TAP and Portugalia owners Grupo Espirito Santo, announced TAP's acquisition of 99.81% of Portugalia shares, subject to approval by the regulatory authorities. It had 750 employees (at March 2007). Portugalia was to join theSkyTeam Alliance in 2008.
With the acquisition by TAP Air Portugal Group, it undertook a new business model. The company stopped working independently and started working within a group logic as a supplier of flight capacity by hiring its aircraft to TAP Air Portugal. Fernando Pinto, president & CEO of TAP Air Portugal said that the airline's regional subsidiary, Portugália Airlines, is "important to the TAP results as it brings very important passengers from small cities to long distance services.", duringEuropean Regional Airlines Association 2012 conference inPorto.
On 21 March 2014, TAP Air Portugal announced that it would buy twoATR 42-600 for its subsidiary company Portugália replacing the smallerBeechcraft 1900D previously operated byPGA Express. However,White Airways now operates the ATRs family on behalf of TAP Air Portugal instead of Portugália.
On 14 January 2016, TAP Air Portugal announced that Portugália would be rebranded asTAP Express as of 27 March 2016 as part of the restructuring measures within the group. The division Portugália Airlines however was said to stay independent within the group.
On the same day, TAP Air Portugal also announced that the entire Portugália fleet consisting ofFokker 100 andEmbraer ERJ-145 would be replaced by July 2016 with newEmbraer 190 andATR 72-600 aircraft (the latter operated byWhite Airways on behalf of TAP), which received a livery similar to that of TAP Air Portugal albeit wearingExpress titles.
Portugália operated within the route network ofTAP Express.
Media related toPortugalia Airlines at Wikimedia Commons
