Portugal’s national flag-carrier TAP Air Portugal is to become the first airline in the world to operate the new Airbus A330neo aircraft, which is due to come into service later this year.
Airbus this week shared a photo of the new plane, accompanied by the caption: “Vejam, que bonito! – Look, what a beauty! @tapairportugal’s first #A330neo has rolled out from our paint shop with a distinctive sticker celebrating our launch customer. #TAP330NEO #tapairportugal.”
The new A330neo comprises the new Airspace cabin and TAP made a point of involving national companies in its production to boost its image.
A total of 53 new, long and medium-haul aircraft were ordered back in 2015, among them 14 Airbus A330neo, although the total amount invested in the order was not released.
Reports at the end of last year stated TAP would receive highly-efficient next generation planes during the latter half of 2018, and six would be in service by the end of the year.
Fernando Pinto, former CEO of TAP, who stepped down from the role at the start of this year, had, at the time, described 2015’s fleet reinforcement as “the biggest leap forward in [the airline’s] recent history, or even in the history of the company.”
