aviation - the past, present and future of flight

Unexpectedly, on April 27, Portugal

underwent a peaceful revolution staged

by the army, thus ending 36 years

of authoritarianism. The effects on

TAP were dramatic. As a result of the

revolution, Portugal began its long-awaited

decolonisation process and by 1975 its two

largest territories, Mozambique and Angola,

had become independent.

However, this led to signi cantly lower

load factors and TAP was taken into state

ownership the following year. The two

newest Boeing 747s were sold to Pakistan

International Airlines in 1976. Three years

later the airline’s brand name was changed

to TAP Air Portugal.

As part of its earlier expansion

programme TAP had invested in

sophisticated engine and airframe overhaul

facilities at its Lisbon headquarters and

was carrying out maintenance for several

third-party operators. This included a deal

with Federal Express to overhaul and modify

25 Boeing 727-100s. Portugal’s proximity to

Africa and its labour rates, signi cantly lower

than those elsewhere in Western Europe,

also made it a regular port of call for smaller

African operators for maintenance and

overhaul and thus provided a useful source

of additional income.

A period of stability followed; new routes

within Europe were opened and seven

new Boeing 737-200s entered the  eet in

1983. These were later supplemented by
       ve more purchased from Monarch Airlines
      and Lufthansa. Deliveries of the seven

34 Aviation News incorporating Jets September 2018

Sud Caravelle VI-R, CS-TCA, one of four used by the airline in the 1960s. TAP Air Portugal

Four Boeing 747-200s, including CS-TJA, joined the airline in the early 1970s.

Two (CS-TJC and ’D) were sold off after relatively little service, while the other

pair (CS-TJA and ’B) soldiered on for over a decade. TAP Air Portugal

A TAP Boeing 707 (CS-TBC)  own on the Lisbon to New York route in April 1968. TAP Air Portugal The 707’s 1960s-era interior. TAP Air Portugal