TAP Air Portugal and Iberia strengthen ties with Brazil
Two major European carriers, TAP Air Portugal and Iberia, are expanding their networks in Brazil, further deepening air links between Europe and South America.
TAP Air Portugal announced the launch of a new route connecting Lisbon to Curitiba, the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná, beginning July 2, 2026. The airline will operate three weekly flights, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, on the Lisbon (LIS) – Curitiba (CWB) – Rio de Janeiro (GIG) – Lisbon (LIS) route. The Portuguese national carrier will use an Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured for 269 passengers. Tickets went on sale on November 11.
“The new TAP Air Portugal route strengthens Paraná’s role on the international stage,” said Ratinho Junior, Governor of Paraná. “This direct connection from Lisbon will boost tourism, attract more European visitors, and expand business opportunities with Europe.”
Carlos Antunes, TAP Air Portugal’s Director for the Americas, continues to see Brazil as “a strategic market of paramount importance” for the airline. With the addition of Curitiba, we’re continuing to expand our footprint in a country that already enjoys multiple connections to Europe via Lisbon and Porto,” he said. “This reinforces our commitment to the historical, cultural, and economic ties between Portugal and Brazil, while offering travelers more comfort, connectivity, and efficiency.”
The addition of Curitiba brings TAP Air Portugal’s Brazilian network to 14 cities. It makes it the European airline with the most extensive coverage of Brazil.
Iberia looks also at Brazil
Meanwhile, Iberia is also ramping up its operations in Brazil with two new routes. The Spanish airline will launch direct flights to Recife on December 13, followed by Fortaleza on January 19. Both routes will operate three times per week using the Airbus A321XLR, for which Iberia was the global launch carrier.
For the winter 2025-26 season, Iberia will consequently serve four Brazilian destinations: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Fortaleza — offering roughly 284,000 seats between Spain and Brazil.
These new destinations are part of Iberia’s Flight Plan 2030, the company’s long-term roadmap to strengthen its position in key markets by expanding connectivity across the Americas and Europe. The move underscores Iberia’s strategic focus on growth and its commitment to linking more travelers between the two regions.
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