TAP Air Portugal has seen demand on regional flights grow, however, limited to a fleet of 99 aircraft, due to the restructuring plan, the airline is unable to add more planes.
The alternative has been to replace the ATR 72 turboprops with Embraer’s E190 and E195 jets. According to Flight Global, TAP should cut ATR to just two planes, out of six that are currently active.
At the same time, the Portuguese carrier is receiving six E-Jets through Portugalia, two of which have already been delivered in September and the rest will arrive in January 2023.
TAP has entered into wet-lease agreements with White Airlines to operate the ATR turboprops, whose contracts are due to expire in October.
Currently, the flag carrier of Portugal operates a fleet of 12 E190s and six E195s, in addition to 54 Airbus A320 family planes and 22 A330 widebodies.
The company experienced serious financial difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic and received government assistance to undertake a program of cost cutting and revenue growth.
