TAP Air Portugal will further expand its Brazilian footprint next summer with a new route to Curitiba, strengthening its position as the largest Europe-Brazil operator as the transatlantic market continues to surge.
Flights to Curitiba’s Afonso Pena International Airport, serving the capital of Parana state, will begin on July 2, 2026. The Star Alliance member plans to offer three flights per week with Airbus A330-200s, operating a Lisbon-Curitiba-Rio de Janeiro Galeao-Lisbon rotation.
Ratinho Junior, governor of Parana, says the service “reinforces Parana's role on the global stage,” adding that it “will boost tourism, facilitate the arrival of European visitors and expand business opportunities with Europe.”
Curitiba joins a growing list of Brazilian markets where TAP has recently strengthened its presence, including the introduction of Florianopolis service in September 2024, the return of Manaus in November 2024 after an eight-year absence and the restart of Porto Alegre in April 2025 after the airport’s recovery from flooding.
TAP’s latest expansion comes amid strong, continuing growth in the Europe-Brazil market. According to data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser, the carrier currently offers 51,300 two-way weekly seats to and from Brazil, with winter 2025-26 capacity rising to 1.14 million seats, up 6.7% year on year.
Across all operators, Europe-Brazil capacity in November totals 858,200 two-way seats, a year-on-year increase of almost 8%. This compares with 795,700 seats in November 2024 and 703,000 seats in November 2019. Analysis of schedules for December 2025 reveals the market is set for an all-time high of 918,800 two-way seats.
TAP remains the dominant European carrier in the corridor, accounting for 24.9% of all Europe-Brazil capacity in November. LATAM Airlines Group follows at 19.5%, ahead of Air France (10.3%), Azul (7.8%) and Iberia (5.5%).
TAP’s deepening Brazil footprint comes as the Portuguese government advances the first phase of the airline’s privatization, offering a 44.9% stake to a strategic partner. TAP CEO Luís Rodrigues recently reiterated Brazil’s role as the centerpiece of its strategy, explaining the airline’s “strategic value” lies in its South Atlantic network, where it has historically held the largest market share.
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