Travel Next Minas: Carlos Antunes and the growth of TAP Air Portugal in Brazil

In his first appearance at Travel Next Minas, Carlos Antunes, director for the Americas, shared the company's plans and the country's importance in the international market.

Brazil: one of TAP's priority markets

"Brazil is one of our main markets," says Antunes, highlighting TAP's presence in 13 Brazilian cities, with more than 15 daily flights to Lisbon and Porto. "We transport around 2 million passengers per year, and it is certainly one of the company's priority markets."

The executive highlights the company's reach, connecting passengers from cities such as Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo to destinations throughout Europe and North Africa.

Strategic partnerships in South America

Antunes explains that TAP maintains strong partnerships with Brazilian domestic and regional airlines in South America, including Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Panama. "We have a sales team in virtually every Latin American country, representing TAP and providing travel agents with the opportunity to sell our products," he explains.

According to him, this network allows us to serve all market niches, from families to business owners, consolidating the company's corporate traffic.

Portugal as a destination and stopover strategy

The partnership with Turismo de Portugal is strategic. Antunes states: "Turismo de Portugal is our main partner. We promote Portugal every day, even in our name, TAP Air Portugal."

He highlights the stopover program, which allows passengers traveling to other European countries to spend a few days in Portugal. "It's an opportunity to get to know the country better, enjoy its culture and cuisine, and feel like the journey begins the moment they board with us," he explains.

TAP as a Portuguese symbol

Carlos Antunes reinforces TAP's role as an ambassador for Portugal: "We are the Portuguese flag carrier, and we are very proud to carry the values of Portugal." He believes the airline is the preferred choice for Brazilians flying to Europe and Europeans traveling to Brazil. "Our product is spectacular, and you'll feel like you're in Portugal from the moment you board the aircraft," he states.

Trajectory of Carlos Antunes

A Portuguese executive with a consolidated career, Antunes began his career at TAP as a Marketing Assistant in Italy and rose to become Director for the Americas. He also gained experience at other international airlines, including Etihad Airways, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, and Copa Airlines. In 2022, he returned to TAP to strengthen its presence in South America, and in 2023, he became head of TAP's entire operations in the Americas, overseeing more than 60 professionals and 21 destinations.

From visionary origins to a strategic role in European aviation

TAP was founded in 1945 on the initiative of Humberto Delgado, then Secretary of Civil Aeronautics, a figure who marked the history of Portuguese aviation by envisioning a company that could connect Portugal to the world. In 1946, the company inaugurated the Imperial Air Line, a route connecting Lisbon to Luanda and Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, a 15-day journey with 12 stops, considered at the time one of the longest routes on the planet for twin-engine aircraft. This milestone symbolized the ambition of a company that, in the following years, expanded its connections to strategic destinations in Europe, with regular flights to cities such as Seville, Paris, and London, consolidating its international presence and reinforcing Portugal's role as a link between continents.

Today, with hubs in Lisbon and Porto—two of the main gateways for travelers from America to Europe—TAP operates in dozens of countries and remains a national symbol, belonging to the Portuguese state, which keeps the company at the center of air connections between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Report and photo: Mary de Aquino.