TAP’s operation between London City airport and Lisbon has launched, with the inaugural flight taking off from London City at 19:50.

TAP now serves three airports in London, offering two daily flights on week-days and one daily flight on weekends from London City to Lisbon.

With the new addition to its network, TAP becomes the only airline to connect London City, located in the city’s financial centre, and the cosmopolitan destination of Lisbon, and the first Airline to fly this route in the 30 years London City Airport has been operating.

The direct flights between London City and Lisbon will operate with the Embraer 190 aircraft, with seat capacity for 106 passengers, departing London at 10:10 and 19:50, and departing Lisbon at 07:00 and 16:40, from Monday to Friday.

On weekends, the operation is daily.

On Saturdays, departing London at 10:10 and Lisbon at 07:00 and, and on Sundays, departing London at 19:50 and Lisbon at 16:40.

TAP is thus reinforcing its presence in the UK, by operating to those considered the three preferential airports in London and by offering its passengers an improved choice of schedules and connections, and increasing the frequency of its operations.

Between January and September this year, the offer of seats increased 12 per cent, and the number of passengers carried between Lisbon and London increased 28 per cent.

This growth rate should hold until the end of the year, and the total number of passengers is expected to exceed 700 thousand.

Richard Hill, chief commercial officer at London City Airport, said: “I’m thrilled to welcome TAP to London City Airport.

“Not only does the airline add an exciting new name to the list of operators at LCY, it brings a new route for us – the first time the airport has offered direct flights to Lisbon - and in addition offers great connecting opportunities, through TAP’s Lisbon hub on to Africa and the Americas.

“I’m sure it will be a great success.”