TAP invests in energy and environmental efficiency

TAP has taken delivery of the first of six new Airbus A320-214’s. Four of the new aircraft will progressively replace the Airbus A320-211 currently in service and manufactured as far back as 1991, and two others designed to enable new flights to Moscow, Warsaw and Helsinki to be offered this coming June.

Compared with the previous model the new aircraft will offer an average energy and environmental efficiency increase of around 8 percent, enabling a reduction in annual emissions of 2200 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) corresponding to fuel saving of the order of 700 tons.

These gains in efficiency constitute one of the priorities of the TAP fleet renewal and modernization program that is in line with the Guiding Principles of the Company with respect to the Environment, namely that concerning the “use of eco-sustainable practices and technologies that reconcile growth with protection of the environment”.

In addition to this principle, others also stand out within this context, namely: the integration of environmental questions in all activities carried out by the Company; the promotion both of the continual improvement of environmental performance and also of the environmental awareness of workers and suppliers, and respect for the basic principles of the UN Global Compact.

After passing through the Company’s Maintenance & Engineering Unit, the new aircraft will begin medium-haul flights in the middle of this month of February. Under registration number CS-TNQ, it will carry the name of “Jose Regio” in homage to the Portuguese writer of the 20th Century who in addition to his vast and diverse literary work ranging from poetry to fiction, to novels and theater, was also co-founder of the ‘Presenca” magazine, a major precursor and ideologist of the so-called Second Portuguese Modernism Movement, and also wrote for popular newspapers and publications such as “Seara Nova”, “Ler”, “O Comercio do Porto” and “Diario de Noticias”.

Entry into service of these new aircraft will also provide considerable benefits both in terms of the level of in-flight service and comfort offered to customers as well as operational performance, reliability and maintenance. Moreover, they also fit in with the strategy pursued by TAP allying economic performance with the responsibility undertaken by the Company with regard to Society and the Environment.