Flights to Operate Twice a Week Through Mid-September
TAP has officially launched a new seasonal route connecting Funchal, Madeira, with Faro in the Algarve. The flights will run twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays, from June 2 to September 11. Each flight will use a 106-seat aircraft.
This connection offers a new direct option for travelers between the two Portuguese regions, which previously had limited options for non-stop travel. TAP board member Mário Chávez explained that the airline made the decision based on market research and past demand.
Obviously, all routes undergo market studies, and there are several factors supporting this route. What we want in this first year is to confirm that the studies were correct. If they are, then any route is viable and should continue—this is true for any market, this one or any other
Mário Chávez, TAP board member, RTP Madeira
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This route isn’t entirely new. Another airline operated it several years ago, and TAP used that past data to help plan the current service. According to Chávez, today’s travel environment is different, with new factors supporting the route’s success.
One of those factors is the interest from international travelers. United Airlines, for example, now offers connections to both Faro and Funchal. TAP sees this as a sign that the route fits into a broader travel trend where foreign visitors - especially from the U.S. - combine several destinations in one trip.
United's new route linking Madeira to 89 American airports. He highlighted the growth of the American market in the region, which rose from 14,000 visitors in 2015 to 76,000 in 2024.
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Tourism officials are also looking at the American market. Eduardo Jesus, the Madeira government’s tourism secretary, pointed to recent data showing that visits from the United States have grown significantly - from 14,000 in 2015 to 76,000 in 2024. United Airlines is starting a new route on June 8 that will connect Madeira with Newark, New Jersey, which connects passengers within 30 minutes with New York City by public transport.
Source: RTP Madeira
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