TAP Portugal’s First Retrofitted A330 Now Flying US-Lisbon Routes

TAP’s $73 Million Fleet Upgrades Now Offer Full Flat Seats in Business Class and More Comfort in Economy

TAP Portugal is investing more than $73 million in a new onboard cabin for the airline’s A330 fleet. Seven A330s will be retrofitted by the end of the year. The first A330 to be completed, named João Gonçalves Zarco, has commenced flying between the U.S. and Lisbon this week.

This A330 upgrade program represents TAP’s commitment to improving comfort and improving its onboard product for passengers in all classes, bringing the cabins into line with that of the A330neo, which will soon be joining the fleet.

TAP’s proud Portuguese identity is recognizable through the aircraft interior, thanks to partnerships with Portuguese companies such as Almadesign, which selected the materials and developed the finishing, and with Couro Azul, which supplied the leather used in the Executive class seats.

New Comfort in Economy Class

The economy cabin now comprises two categories: Economy and Economy Plus. The configuration and design provide a fresh atmosphere, with more legroom, deeper seat recline, and new seat covers in shades of green and grey in Economy, and green and red in Economy Plus.

More Modern and Comfortable Executive Class

In Executive Class, the changes are even more pronounced, with 25 new fully-flat reclining chairs that are more than six feet long when fully reclined.

Also, TAP has powered up its new business class chairs to include USB slots and individual electrical sockets, connections for headphones, individual reading lights, tables with storage space, and supports for bottles.