Emirates and Tap Portugal, ever closer ties
Emirates and TAP Air Portugal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the codeshare partnership currently in [...]
Tap Air Portugal
Emirates
LIS
Emirates and TAP Air Portugal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the codeshare partnership currently in place between the two airlines.
In this article:
What the agreement signed today provides:
- Customers of both airlines will benefit from more code-share destinations in the Americas, North Africa and East Asia and add domestic connections in Portugal
- Both airlines will explore expansion of current frequent flyer program
- Both airlines will increase stop over offers
- Emirates will support TAP Air Portugal in opening a route to Dubai
The new agreement will see customers of both airlines benefit from Of the possible connections on many new routes through the Americas, North Africa and East Asia. Emirates and TAP Air Portugal will also explore ways to enhance cooperation in their respective frequent flyer programs, including mutual earning and redemption opportunities and benefits such as lounge access.
As part of the partnership, TAP Air Portugal will include the own code on Emirates flights to popular East Asian destinations such as Taipei, Tokyo, Osaka, Mumbai, Delhi, Dhaka, Male, Jakarta, Denpasar, Manila, Hanoi, as well as Barcelona and Mexico City.
Emirates customers will have seamless access to other domestic destinations in Portugal, as well as TAP Air Portugal flights to cities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Morocco, Tunisia, Gambia and Cape Verde.
What could change
Like all news, there are bound to be positive changes and some less so. One benefit for TAP frequent flyers could be to see status honored even when flying Emirates, including lounge access. The increased codeshare flights will also allow miles to be earned on flights where it is not allowed today.
The opening of a TAP connection to Dubai could represent a farewell to the Emirates flight that currently, on a daily basis, connects the two destinations. At the same time, it could mean the opening of a "fifth freedom flight" to Brazil via Lisbon, thus As is the case with the Milan New York.
I am curious to see how it will impact the availability of award seats for pTap Portugal's loyalty program and, vice versa, if it will be possible use Skywards miles to reserve seats on Portuguese airline flights.
The official statements
Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, said, "Emirates and TAP Air Portugal have enjoyed a mutually successful codeshare partnership for eight years. We are pleased to expand this relationship and look forward to offering even more benefits to our customers."
He was echoed by Arik De, Chief Revenue & Network Officer of TAP Air Portugal: "TAP Air Portugal is pleased to strengthen our partnership with Emirates, allowing our guests greater geographic access. We look forward to bringing Emirates customers to more cities in Portugal, to our destinations in the Americas and North Africa, so that they can benefit from our Stopover Portugal program."
