TAP Portugal
TAP Portugal is the national airline, serving 43 destinations, throughout 25 countries in Europe, Africa and North and South America. The carrier is also Europe's leading provider of services to Brasil.
TAP Air Portugal began operations on 19 September 1946, linking Lisbon and Madrid under its original banner Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (TAP). The airline began domestic services in 1947 and joined IATA in 1948. TAP was nationalised in 1975 and became a Sociedade Anonima (public limited company) in 1991. The airline is expected to be privatised at a later stage. The company re-branded from TAP Air Portugal to TAP Portugal in February 2005. On 14 March 2005 TAP Portugal became a member of the Star Alliance.
PGA operates scheduled international and domestic flights from Lisbon and Porto together with charters to Spain, France, Italy, Germany, UK and Belgium. On 6 November 2006 TAP and PGA's owners, Grupo Espirito Santo announced the acquisition by TAP Portugal of 99.81% of the shares in PGA Portugalia, for €140 (US$ 178m) subject to approval by AdC, the Portuguese regulatory authority. The deal also includes the acquisition of a 6% stake in handling company Groundforce for an additional €4 million (US$ 5.08m). PGA Portugalia will retain its own identity following the acquisition, although adjustments will be made to both carriers’ flight schedules, particularly on the Lisbon-Porto route.
On 7 June 2006 the Portuguese competition authority AdC, approved the merger with PGA Portugalia, having first imposed seven conditions. Perhaps the most notable condition was the placing of a limit on the frequencies which the combined carrier could operate between Lisbon and Porto: thought to be aimed at encouraging compeition on the route.
Fleet
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