Dubai-based Emirates and Portuguese national flag carrier TAP Air Portugal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase the scope of their current codeshare partnership. In a statement released by Emirates today, it says that customers of both airlines will benefit from seamless connectivity on many new routes across the Americas, North Africa, and East Asia.

Along with this, TAP Air Portugal and Emirates will explore options of enhancing their cooperation regarding their frequent flyer programs, including the use of lounges and the reciprocal earning and redemption of air miles. In addition to this, both airlines will support each other's stopover programs in Lisbon, Porto, and Dubai. Emirates will also support TAP Air Portugal as it looks to expand in the UAE and beyond.

The new agreement starts May 1

The new agreement is expected to commence on May 1, 2021. It will provide customers with unhindered booking, ticketing, and travel benefits across 70 destinations on both airlines’ international and domestic networks subject to regulatory approvals.

Emirates a380 Australia
Photo: Getty Images

When speaking about the MoU in the statement, Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said:

“Emirates and TAP Air Portugal have enjoyed a mutually successful codeshare partnership for the past eight years. We are delighted to expand this relationship and look forward to delivering even more benefits to our customers.”

In reply to the above TAP, Air Portugal’s Chief Revenue & Network Officer Arik De said:

“TAP Air Portugal is pleased to enhance our Emirates partnership, allowing our guests greater geographic access. We look forward to taking Emirates customers to more cities within Portugal, to our destinations in the Americas and North Africa, and for them to benefit from our Stopover Portugal program.”

Both airlines benefit

Under the soon to be expanded partnership program, TAP Air Portugal will place its code on popular Emirates flights to the following Asian destinations:

  • Taipei, Taiwan
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Osaka, Japan
  • Mumbai, India
  • Delhi, India
  • Dhaka, Bangladesh,
  • Male, Maldives
  • Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Denpasar, Indonesia
  • Manila, Philippines
  • Hanoi, Vietnam

Along with the Asian destinations to be added are Emirates flights to Barcelona and Mexico City.

As well as access to TAP Air Portugal domestic destinations, Emirates customers will be able to earn miles on flights to the following destinations which were not previously included in the codeshare agreement:

  • USA
  • Canada
  • Mexico
  • Brazil
  • Senegal
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guinea-Conakry
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia
  • Gambia
  • Cape Verde

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Looking at the above destinations, it is easy to see how both Emirates and TAP Portugal customers will benefit from the enhanced codeshare agreement. For customers of TAP Air Portugal, it gives them access to many Asian destinations the Lisbon Portela Airport (LIS)-based airline does not fly to.

As for Emirates, TAP Air Portugal's connection with Brazil gives Emirates' customers unparalleled access to the largest country in South America. While perhaps not as significant, it will also allow Emirates customers to earn miles when flying to the French-speaking West African nations of Senegal and Guinea.

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TAP CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener says recovery from the pandemic will take time. Photo: Getty Images

Looking at Emirates' statement, it is easy to see how both airlines will benefit from the new deal. TAP Portugal customers can now earn miles on Asian flights, while Emirates customers will benefit from TAP Air Portugals Brazillian and West African flights. It is also worth pointing out the stopover opportunities in both Lisbon and Dubai, which are sure to excite both airlines' customers.

What do you think about the new agreement between TAP Air Portugal and Emirates? Please tell us your thoughts in the comments.