TAP Air Portugal has launched a new air shuttle between Funchal and Lisbon starting February 14th. The air shuttle service will offer improved customer service and greater travel flexibility. TAP currently offers five daily flights on this route, which will increase to seven per day by the end of March.

Seven daily Funchal-Lisbon flights

On February 14th, TAP Air Portugal announced its new Funchal-Lisbon air shuttle arrangement. This service will offer increased flexibility for customers, including same-day reservation changes and an expedited check-in process.

TAP currently offer five daily flights between Madeira and Lisbon. From March 28th, the carrier will increase the frequency of service with two additional flights.

The schedule from March 28th is as follows:

  • Departures from Funchal, Madeira (FNC): Daily at 05:15, 06:05, 09:50, 12:35, 16:00, 19:25 and 22:25.
  • Departures from Lisbon, Portugal (LIS): Daily at 07:15, 10:00, 13:25, 16:50, 19:50, 22:10 and 23:25.
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Passengers will benefit from various perks under the new air shuttle agreement. Photo: Getty Images

TAP said,

"With this wide selection of flights, TAP meets the air transport needs of Madeirans and allows for optimized connections in the Lisbon hub to flights to and from other destinations on the TAP network, thus also boosting the increase in tourist demand to Madeira."

The carrier will offer promotional prices to mark the launch of the new service. Return flights will be available from €59 ($67) for purchases made between February 17th-23rd for flights from March 1st to June 30th.

Optimizing travel

The new air shuttle aims to streamline travel between Madeira and mainland Portugal. Under the new arrangement, customers flying between Madeira and Lisbon will receive several benefits, including more flexibility in changing reservations, fast track access and check-ins up to 45 minutes before departure.

TAP added,

"TAP creates a new product that gives customers more frequent flights, greater flexibility in changing reservations on the same day and greater comfort."

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Travelers can enjoy same-day reservation changes and fast track access. Photo: Getty Images

Madeira is one of two autonomous regions in Portugal located off the northwest coast of Africa. The main airport serving the archipelago is Madeira Airport, which in 2017 was renamed after Madeira's most famous export, Cristiano Ronaldo.

CEO claims masks are here to stay

Last week, TAP Air Portugal CEO Christine Ourmières-Widener made the headlines after claiming that masks are likely to stay "forever."

Ourmières-Widener told TAP employees in Newark,

"We have put into place so many additional protocols. I am absolutely convinced they will stay forever."

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

TAP estimates it will fly around 80% of its pre-pandemic capacity through 2022. At the beginning of the pandemic, the airline found itself in jeopardy before a government-backed $1.4 billion bailout in June 2020 saved it from bankruptcy. The carrier recently received an EU-backed bailout to the tune of €2.55 billion ($2.88 billion) in December.

What are your thoughts on the new air shuttle between Madeira and Lisbon? Will you be purchasing any tickets during the promotional period? Let us know in the comments.