TAP Air Portugal has received the awards for Best European Airline to Africa and Best European Airline to South America at the 2026 World Travel Awards.
The trophies were presented to José Moreira, Chief Operating Officer of TAP Air Portugal. He said: “Receiving these awards is a source of immense pride for TAP. They reflect, once again, the trust placed in us by our customers and partners, as well as the daily commitment of our teams to delivering an excellent experience, not only on board our aircraft but at every stage of the journey, not to mention the first-class maintenance of our aircraft. Africa and South America remain key markets where we hold a unique position in terms of connectivity not only between continents but also between different communities.”
Additional Recognition at Sister Awards
TAP was also named European Airline with the Best Website at the 2026 World Travel Tech Awards. The World Travel Tech Awards form an annual sister event to the World Travel Awards and focus on excellence, innovation and service in the global travel technology sector.
At the same ceremony, the organisation presented the 2026 MICE Awards. TAP was voted Best European Airline. The MICE Awards cover the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions sector.
Network to Africa and South America
TAP continues to operate an extensive network of connections between Europe, Africa and South America.
To Africa, the airline currently flies from Lisbon and Porto to destinations in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Morocco, Senegal, Gambia and Ghana. It provides 82 weekly connections. On 25 October, TAP will launch a new route between Porto and the island of Sal, Cape Verde.
In South America, TAP connects Portugal to 15 Brazilian cities with 100 weekly flights. The airline will launch a further route to São Luís do Maranhão on 26 October. It also serves Venezuela.
Previous Wins
These latest awards add to earlier recognition in the same categories. TAP has previously won Best European Airline to Africa in 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, bringing the total to 11 wins.
In the Best European Airline to South America category, TAP won in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, for a total of 13 awards.
About the Awards and UK Links
The World Travel Awards recognise excellence in the global travel and tourism sector each year. Winners are chosen through an online vote by industry professionals, including travel agents, tour operators and tourism organisations, as well as by the general public.
TAP currently operates flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester in the UK, and from Dublin in Ireland, to Lisbon and Porto. These services offer onward connections to Brazil, Africa, Madeira, the Azores, the USA and Canada. The airline also runs a stopover programme that allows passengers to stay in Lisbon or Porto for up to 10 days on long-haul journeys at no extra air fare.
Related Coverage
TAP Air Portugal Appoints José Eduardo Moreira as New COO
Revigorate Announces Japan Launch, Asia Office, and New Portugal HQ
