TAP is Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa and to

NEW YORK, Oct. 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAP Air Portugal won three World Travel Awards this weekend, being named Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa, Europe’s Leading Airline to South America, and Leading Inflight Magazine for UP.  The awards, considered the "Oscars" of world tourism, were held in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Portugal was named Best Destination in Europe, the first time the country has received the honor.  Moreover, Portugal also won the most awards overall, with 37 awards ranging from Best Cruise Port (Lisbon), Leading Island Destination (Madeira), Best Beach Destination in Europe (Algarve) and Best European Tourism Entity (Turismo de Portugal).

Launched in 1993, the World Travel Awards were created with the aim of acknowledging, rewarding and celebrating the pursuit of excellence in all travel and tourism industry sectors across the globe. Voted among some of the best known airlines worldwide, TAP’s election resulted from an online voting process, mainly by trade professionals in travel and tourism around the world, such as travel agents, operators and tourism organizations from more than 100 countries and by the general public as well.

TAP’s 2017 awards now join the airline’s previous World Travel Award wins, including Europe’s Leading Airline to both Africa and South America in 2014, 2015 and 2016, the World's Leading Airline to Africa in 2011 and 2012 and also the title of World's Leading Airline to South America in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  UP magazine was also celebrated as Europe’s Leading Inflight Magazine both in 2015 and 2016.

About TAP Portugal

TAP is Portugal’s leading airline, and member of Star Alliance, the global airline alliance to offer customers worldwide reach, since 2005. In operation since 1945, TAP celebrated 70 years on March 14, 2015, and has completed its privatization process in 2015, with the Atlantic Gateway Group now as new private shareholders of its share capital. TAP hub in Lisbon is a key European gateway at the crossroads of Africa, North, Central and South America, where TAP stands out as the international leading carrier in operation to Brazil. The company’s network currently comprises 85 destinations in 35 countries worldwide. TAP currently operates about 2,500 weekly flights in average on a modern fleet of 66 Airbus aircraft and 21 aircraft in TAP Express livery, operating in the company’s regional network, adding up to a 87 aircraft fleet in the whole.

Within the vast restructure program currently going across the company as the outcome of its privatization process, TAP has announced its Network restructure, its medium and long haul fleet renewal program as of 2017 and the retrofit of the fleet currently in operation as well as the launch of the new branded product TAP Express, which replaced PGA and operates a new fleet of 17ATR 72 and Embraer 190.

In the pursuit of its customer focused policy, TAP continuously strives to deliver safe, reliable and upgraded products & services, tailored to meet customers’ expectations. Retaining the Portuguese character of the Company’s brand and quality service as the basic concept has been the main driver of TAP strategy in most recent years. Recognized and awarded as the Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa as well as Europe’s Leading Airline to South America by the World Travel Awards in 2016, 2015 and 2014, the company was also awarded as the WTA World’s Leading Airline to Africa in 2011 and 2012 and the WTA World’s Leading Airline to South America in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, while the company’s In-flight magazine UP also received the WTA award as Europe’s Leading In-flight Magazine in 2015 and 2016. Voted Best Airline in Europe in 2011, 2012, 2013 and again in 2015 by the Global Traveler, USA, the company was also honored by UNESCO and by the International Union of Geological Sciences with the IYPE “Planet Earth Award 2010”, in the category of “Most Innovative Sustainable Product”. TAP was also voted Best Airline by Condé Nast Traveller Magazine in 2010 and Best Portuguese Tourism Company by the specialized magazine Marketeer, in 2011.

Media contact: Gareth Edmondson-Jones GEJ, Ink 917 399-9355 GEJink@gmail.com