TAP Air Portugal began its first nonstop service between Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Thursday, October 29. The launch establishes the first direct air link between Portugal and Central Florida, a significant addition to the airline’s expanding network in the United States.
New Lisbon Orlando Flights Schedule
The new route operates year-round with three weekly flights scheduled for Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The journey covers approximately 4,132 miles (6,648 kilometers). Scheduled block time is nine hours and 50 minutes from Lisbon to Orlando, while the return trip takes seven hours and 50 minutes.
Initial launch-week flights on October 29 and October 31 arrive in Orlando at 8:10 PM and depart at 10:40 PM. These specific timings account for Portugal ending daylight saving time one week before Florida. Standard timings will apply starting November 2.
TAP Air Portugal primarily uses Airbus A330-900 aircraft for this route, with some flights operated by the older A330-200 model. This expansion brings the carrier’s total US network to nine destinations across 11 year-round routes. The airline currently serves Boston, Newark, Washington Dulles, New York JFK, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago O’Hare, and San Francisco from its Lisbon hub.
Cargo and Tourism Demand
The introduction of this service targets both passenger tourism and cargo traffic. Florida was the largest source market for US visitors to Portugal in 2025, accounting for 16.8% of the 2.37 million American travelers who visited the country. California and New York followed with 11.8% and 11.4% respectively. TAP already serves South Florida through daily flights to Miami, which handled over 400,000 passengers annually before the Orlando launch.
Cargo capacity is also a key component of the new route. ECS Group subsidiary America Cargo GSA, TAP’s general sales and service agent in the US, is marketing available space to freight forwarders. The airline expects to offer between 45 and 60 tonnes of cargo capacity per week. This capacity supports shipments of aircraft parts, electronics, medical technology, and industrial machinery.
America Cargo GSA stated that the nonstop service “shaves hours off existing two-leg connections and is therefore a highly attractive alternative, particularly for shippers of high-value, time-sensitive goods.” The Airbus A330-900 can accommodate up to 11 pallets or 33 LD3 containers in its lower deck, providing a maximum cargo volume of approximately 158.4 cubic meters.
Broader travel trends support this expansion. According to GlobalData figures cited by Turismo de Portugal, international departures by US travelers are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.1% between 2026 and 2029, reaching 162 million by the end of that period. The Portuguese tourism industry relies heavily on the US market, making direct connections to high-volume states like Florida strategically important.
TAP Air Portugal continues to expand its presence beyond Lisbon. The carrier operates flights from Porto to Boston and Newark, alongside routes from the Azores to California. Looking ahead, the airline is scheduled to introduce a weekly service between Terceira Airport in the Azores and San Francisco International Airport starting in June 2027.
Source: Simple Flying
