Lisbon to Orlando No Longer Requires a Connection

TAP Air Portugal has added a nonstop route between Lisbon and Orlando, flying three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays with an Airbus A330. Aviation Week’s roundup of route news for the week of November 2 lists the service among the latest launches, and Flymag reported earlier this year that the thrice-weekly flights would begin on October 29.

The route matters for the airline’s broader strategy. TAP says Orlando takes its US network past 70 weekly flights, which gives the Lisbon hub another way to funnel North American traffic toward Europe and beyond. Orlando is one of the country’s busiest leisure airports, so the flights serve vacationers heading to Florida as well as Portuguese and European visitors heading the other way.

For travelers, the appeal is mostly convenience. Previously, getting between central Florida and Portugal generally meant connecting somewhere, either in another US city or at a European hub. A nonstop on a widebody removes that stop, and Lisbon is a gateway to TAP’s onward network across Portugal, Spain, North Africa and beyond, making it a handy entry point for trips that combine several destinations.

As with any new transatlantic route, prices and availability will vary by season, and three weekly departures mean less flexibility than a daily flight would offer. If you are planning a trip, compare the nonstop fare against one-stop options and check the days of the week, since only Monday, Thursday and Saturday departures are on offer in this direction. Check TAP’s website for the current schedule.

Sources: Aviation Week, Flymag