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== Fleet ==
== Fleet ==
The Portugalia fleet includes the following aircraft (as of December 2012):<ref name="FI"/>
The Portugalia fleet includes the following aircraft (as of July 2014):<ref name="FI"/>
[[File:2013-10-21 14-29-16 Portugal Lisboa Lisboa Vila Formosa.JPG|thumb|right|PGA Beechcraft of [[PGA Express]]]]
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
{| class="toccolours" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse:collapse"
|+ '''Portugália Fleet'''
|+ '''Portugália Fleet'''
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! Total
! Total
|-
|-
|[[ATR 42-600]]
|[[ATR 42-500]]
|style="text-align:center;"|2<ref>{{cite news|title=Oviedo é o 11º novo destino da TAP em 2014|author=TAP
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|style="text-align:center;"|2<ref>{{cite news|title=Oviedo é o 11º novo destino da TAP em 2014|author=TAP Portugal|url=http://www.tapportugal.com/PressRelease/pt/oviedo-e-o-11-novo-destino-da-tap-em-2014|publisher=TAP Portugal|date=21 March 2014|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref>
Portugal|url=http://www.tapportugal.com/PressRelease/pt/oviedo-e-o-11-novo-destino-da-tap-em-2014|publisher=TAP Portugal|date=21 March 2014|accessdate=21 May 2014}}</ref>
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
⚫
|0
|46
|46
|46
|46
|Spain and Africa
|Spain and North Africa
|
|[[PGA Express]]
|-
|-
|[[Embraer ERJ 145 EP]]
|[[Embraer ERJ 145 EP]]
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|89
|89
|97
|97
|Domestic and European.
|Domestic and European
|
|
⚫
|-
|[[Beechcraft 1900#1900D|Beechcraft 1900D]]
⚫
|style="text-align:center;"|2
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
|19
|19
|Spain, North Africa destinations
|[[PGA Express]]; to be replaced by [[ATR 42|ATR 42-600]]
|-
|-
!Total
!Total
!16
!16
⚫
|style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
!2
!style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
!style="text-align:center;"|&mdash;
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Revision as of 22:30, 15 July 2014

Portugália
IATA ICAO Callsign
NI PGA PORTUGALIA
Founded1988
HubsPortela Airport
Focus citiesFrancisco Sá Carneiro Airport
Frequent-flyer programVictoria
AllianceStar Alliance (affiliate)
Fleet size16 (with PGA Express)
Destinations23
Parent companyTAP Portugal
HeadquartersLisbon Portela Airport
Lisbon, Portugal
Key peopleLuiz Plácido Lapa (CEO)
WebsitePGA

Portugália–Companhia Portuguesa de Transportes Aéreos, S.A., doing business as Portugália, is a regional airline with its head office in Building 70 on the grounds of Lisbon Portela Airport in Lisbon, Portugal,[1][2] and a subsidiary of TAP Portugal. Portugália received the title of "Best Regional Airline" in Europe 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 and the Skytrax Award for Best Cabin Staff in Europe, in 2005.[3] It operates scheduled international and domestic services from Lisbon and Porto, as well as European charter services, since 2007 exclusively under TAP flight codes.[4] Its main base is Portela Airport, Lisbon, but it has a secondary hub at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, Porto.[5]

History

First years

Two PGA Fokker 100 at Lisbon Airport in 2012
Lisbon airport apron with TAP Portugal A330-200 behind Portugália Airlines Embraer 145

The airline was established on 25 July 1988 as a joint-stock company, but had to wait two years before it could start services, due to a delay in air transport liberalization. It started operations on 7 July 1990 with a flight from Lisbon to Porto. It also flew from Lisbon to Faro that same day. It started operations with scheduled domestic and international charter flights, as scheduled international flights were not then permitted under Portuguese legislation. International scheduled flights started in June 1992 from Lisbon and Porto.

The company's first airplanes were Fokker 100's and since late 1990's it has also purchased 8 Embraer 145, becoming the main competitor of state flag carrier TAP Portugal. Operating in the regional market, Portugália focused its operation in domestic routes, as well as on destinations in Spain, France, Italy, Germany and Morocco.

International recognition

The Company’s fleet stabilized in 2000 with 14 aircraft (6 Fokker 100 and 8 Embraer 145) still operating today. PGA asserted itself on the European market as a private and innovative airline, guided by high level service standards.

Portugália received the title of "Best Regional Airline" in Europe, in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, the Skytrax Award for Best Cabin Staff in Europe, in 2005 and 2006, and for Best Cabin Staff in Southern Europe, in 2007.[3]

Portugália maintenance & engineering

Portugália developed its own maintenance services since its earliest days, however it only managed to have its own Hangar and to increase its base maintenance capabilities as of 2005 with the opening of its Hangar at Lisbon Portela Airport. Performing most of its Fokker and Embraer maintenance in house, Portugália managed to significantly improve its results.

Integration into TAP Portugal Group

On 6 November 2006, TAP and Portugalia's owners Grupo Espirito Santo, announced TAP's acquisition of 99.81% of Portugalia shares, subject to approval by the regulatory authorities. It had 750 employees (at March 2007). Portugalia was to join the SkyTeam Alliance in 2008,[5] but since it was bought by Star Alliance member TAP Portugal, it's not known if it will join Star Alliance as a regional member.

With the acquisition by TAP Portugal Group it undertakes a new business model. The Company stops working independently and starts working within a Group logic as a supplier of flight capacity by hiring its aircraft to TAP Portugal.

Fernando Pinto, president & CEO of TAP Portugal said that the airline's regional subsidiary, Portugália Airlines, is "important to the TAP results as it brings very important passengers from small cities to long distance services.",[6] during European Regional Airlines Association 2012 conference in Porto.

On 21st March 2014 the airline announced their 11th route for 2014 Asturias and that it would buy two ATR 42-600 for its subsidiary company PGA Express which operates mostly Spanish routes.[7][8]

Destinations

For list of destinations see: Portugália destinations

A subsidiary of Omni Aviation uses Portugália Airlines colours and livery PGA Express and operates services from Lisbon to A Coruña, Málaga, Seville and Casablanca.

Fleet

The Portugalia fleet includes the following aircraft (as of July 2014):[5]

Portugália Fleet
Aircraft Total Orders Options Passengers Routes Notes
C Y Total
ATR 42-500 2[9] — — 0 46 46 Spain and North Africa
Embraer ERJ 145 EP 8 — — 6 39 45 Domestic and European
Fokker 100 6 — — 8 89 97 Domestic and European
Total 16 — —

Incidents

On 11 August 2001 the left main landing gear of a Portugalia Fokker 100 aircraft collapsed during taxi at Lisbon Airport. No-one was injured.

References

  1. ^ "Contact Information." Portugália. Retrieved on 15 December 2011. "Aeroporto de Lisboa Rua C - Edifício 70 1749-078 Lisboa PORTUGAL"
  2. ^ "2009 Annual Report." TAP Portugal. 88. Retrieved on 15 December 2011. "REGISTERED OFFICE Aeroporto de Lisboa Rua C - Edifício 70 1749-078 LISBOA"
  3. ^ a b http://www.portugalia-airlines.pt/historia.php
  4. ^ Presstur
  5. ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 10 April 2007. p. 63.
  6. ^ http://www.eraa.org/events/regional-airline-conference/875-rac2012-day-1-news-report
  7. ^ http://www.presstur.com/site/news.asp?news=46558
  8. ^ http://www.tapportugal.com/PressRelease/pt/oviedo-e-o-11-novo-destino-da-tap-em-2014
  9. ^ TAP (21 March 2014). "Oviedo é o 11º novo destino da TAP em 2014". TAP Portugal. Retrieved 21 May 2014. {{cite news}}: Text "— Portugal" ignored (help)
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