TAP PORTUGAL

TAP Portugal, founded 1945 as Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, SGPS, S.A. , commonly known as TAP, is the national airline of Portugal. TAP Portugal is 100 % state owned and has its head office in Building 25 on the grounds of Portela Airport in Santa Maria dos Olivais, Lisbon, and has been a member of the Star Alliance since 14 March 2005, the same day on which the company celebrated its 60th anniversary. Its hub in Lisbon is a key European gateway at the crossroads of Africa, South America and North America. Privatization of the airline will be under way in 2012 as part of Portugal's €78 billion bailout agreed by the EU and the IMF. TAP's route network comprises 80 destinations in 36 countries worldwide. TAP operates almost 2,000 weekly flights with a fleet of 55 Airbus aircraft, and 16 further aircraft servicing regional subsidiary carrier Portugalia. TAP originally meant Transportes Aéreos Portugueses (Portuguese Air Transportations). This was dropped in 1979 when the company changed its name to TAP Air Portugal, then dropped again to its current operational name, TAP Portugal. Global Traveler Magazine named TAP Portugal 'Best Airline in Europe' for the year 2011.