On September 3rd, TAP Air Portugal celebrated the launch of its inaugural flight from Lisbon to Florianópolis, landing at 17:16 local time. This marks TAP’s entry into the Europe-Florianópolis route, with the airline committing to three weekly flights using Airbus A330-200 aircraft, providing the only regular flights from Europe to Florianópolis.
With this new schedule, TAP will offer a total of 807 seats each week across its three A330-200 aircraft. The services will be offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
TAP Air Portugal has established Brazil as its primary international market, boasting 13 routes, all operating from Lisbon and some also from Porto. Additionally, the airline plans to initiate flights between Lisbon and Manaus via Belem starting November 5th. Meanwhile, Porto Alegre’s airport is set to resume domestic operations in October and international services in December, although TAP has yet to confirm a return to Porto Alegre, which may occur in 2025.
Highlights from the recent developments in the aviation market include:
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Azul Airlines announcing its entry into Paraguay with four new routes from Silvio Pettirossi Airport in Asunción. Azul plans to utilize Embraer E-2 aircraft configured for 136 passengers.
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Turkish Airlines confirming the launch of services to Santiago de Chile beginning December 18th, with four weekly flights operated with 329-seat Airbus A350-900s.
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Aerolíneas Argentinas resuming flights between Córdoba and El Calafate on September 16th and adding seasonal services to El Calafate from Bariloche, Rosario, and Trelew in October.
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Aeromexico readying to expand its services to Colombia and confirming new connections.
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FedEx now offering flights to Argentina, Chile, and Ecuador.
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GOL Linhas Aéreas reinstating its operations between Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo with three flights a week.
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Volaris El Salvador launching its inaugural flight to San José (Costa Rica), operating twice weekly.
- SKY Airline commencing services between Santiago and Salvador, Brazil, with two weekly operations.
In a recent aviation incident, a Voepass ATR 72-500 tragically crashed on August 9th during a flight, resulting in a loss of lives. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on potential icing issues with the aircraft before takeoff.
The aviation industry continues to adapt and grow, with various airlines enhancing their services and routes to meet the demands of travelers in Latin America and beyond.
