TAP Air Portugal Reports 1.6% Passenger Increase in 2023
Portugal's TAP Air Portugal, currently undergoing privatization, transported 16.1 million passengers in 2023, representing a 1.6% increase year-over-year. The growth was primarily driven by North American and Brazilian routes.
North American and Brazilian Routes Surge
Passenger volume on North American routes jumped by 8.9% to 1.59 million. Additionally, over 2 million passengers traveled between Brazil and Europe, a record number indicating a 7.1% increase from 2022. These North and South American routes are considered TAP's most lucrative, playing a pivotal role in the government's privatization plans for 2024.
European and African Routes
European travel excluding Portugal saw a modest rise of 0.9% to 8.8 million passengers. Meanwhile, routes to and from Africa experienced a slight decline of 0.1% to 1.1 million.
Profitability Expectations
CEO Luis Rodrigues anticipates another profitable year for TAP in 2025, citing commercial and efficiency improvements amid a surge in tourism.