TAP Air Portugal celebrated the 75th anniversary of its first flight to São Tomé with events at Lisbon and São Tomé airports. Passengers received chocolate cakes from São Tomé and a postcard with an image of the inaugural flight, numbered TP522.
The first flight in 1949 was piloted by Captain Canelhas on a DC-3 Dakota aircraft, which also operated the Imperial Air Line connecting Lisbon to Angola and Mozambique.
São Tomé and Príncipe, known as the “African Galapagos,” are popular with Portuguese tourists but undiscovered by Irish travelers, offering unique flora, fauna, landscapes, and a blend of Portuguese and West African culture.
TAP Air Portugal, one of only two European airlines flying to São Tomé, operates the TP1527 connection five times a week using a modern A321LRneo aircraft with 168 seats, including 16 business class seats that convert into beds and in-flight entertainment options.
