TAP Air Portugal stopover surges 74% in early 2025
TAP Air Portugal's free Portugal Stopover program is having a breakout year. From January to June 2025, more than 193,000 customers added a Lisbon or Porto stopover, a 74 percent jump compared with the same period in 2024. Stopovers accounted for five percent of all TAP tickets issued worldwide in the first half of 2025, rising to nine percent in June alone. Brazil and the United States led adoption, reflecting TAP's strength on both sides of the Atlantic and growing interest in adding time in Portugal without extra base fare.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Free stopovers can stretch a Europe trip without raising base airfare.
- Travel impact: More award and sale itineraries may include Lisbon or Porto overnights.
- What's next: Promotional add-ons and a 25 percent domestic-flight discount could push usage higher.
- Brazil origin tops the chart at 12.7 percent of tickets using Stopover.
- U.S. origin reached six percent of tickets with the Stopover option.
- June 2025 peaked with nine percent of TAP tickets including a Stopover.
Snapshot
Portugal Stopover lets TAP customers add a free stay of up to 10 days in Lisbon or Porto on the outbound or return leg. Travelers can now pair the city break with a discounted hop to a second Portuguese region, thanks to a 25 percent promo on flights within Portugal during the stopover window. Perks extend beyond flights, with discounts and offers from more than 150 partners, including select hotels, restaurants, museums, tours, shops, and activities. If you are entering the EU for the first time on your itinerary, review ID and biometrics requirements rolling out under the bloc's new border systems to avoid arrival bottlenecks. For an overview of what to expect, see EU Entry/Exit System: What travelers should know.
Background
TAP launched Portugal Stopover to capitalize on its extensive transatlantic schedule through Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) and Porto's Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO). The product targets leisure and business travelers who want to break up a long-haul journey and sample Portugal's culinary, cultural, and coastal highlights on the same ticket. Over time, TAP expanded eligibility and layered in partner offers to keep the program competitive with stopover plays from Iceland, Turkey, and the Middle East. The 2025 results underscore a strong response in core long-haul markets. In the first half, five percent of TAP tickets worldwide included a stopover, with June reaching nine percent as summer travel surged. Brazil was the standout origin at 12.7 percent of tickets using Stopover, followed by the United States at six percent.
Latest Developments
Brazil and U.S. demand lead Portugal Stopover growth
TAP reports that from January through June 2025, more than 193,000 customers opted for a stopover, up 74 percent year over year. The airline attributes momentum to increased awareness in Brazil and the United States, where network breadth and competitive fares make a city break in Lisbon or Porto an easy add-on. The 25 percent discount on an intra-Portugal flight during the stopover period encourages itineraries that pair urban time with wine regions, the Algarve, or the Azores. With partner offers spanning more than 150 brands, travelers can reduce on-the-ground costs while exploring museums, tours, and dining. Adoption concentrated in June, when nine percent of all TAP tickets included the Stopover, suggesting seasonal peaks and room to grow shoulder-season take-up as promotions align with capacity.
Analysis
Stopover programs can shift traveler behavior because they eliminate the tradeoff between a quick connection and a meaningful destination add-on. TAP's data shows that a no-fare-difference stop in Lisbon or Porto, plus tangible on-the-ground savings, resonates across long-haul leisure segments. Brazil's 12.7 percent origin share is notable, reflecting deep network coverage and strong cultural ties that position Portugal as a natural pause on the way to Europe or Africa. The United States at six percent is also significant given fierce transatlantic competition; here, a simple booking flow and clear value proposition likely drive conversion. The 25 percent intra-Portugal discount is strategically smart, funneling stopover guests beyond gateway cities into secondary regions where tourism dispersal is a policy priority. For travelers, the main friction remains airport throughput and border formalities during peak periods. Planning arrival timing, confirming document readiness, and pre-booking time-sensitive activities can preserve the value of a short stay. If TAP continues to bundle partner perks and targeted sales, adoption could normalize above the June high-water mark during future summer peaks.
Final Thoughts
For travelers eyeing Europe, TAP's Portugal Stopover is an efficient way to add beaches, vineyards, or cultural time without increasing the base fare. The program's growth in early 2025 suggests strong product-market fit, especially for Brazil and U.S. origins. With a free stay up to 10 days, discounted domestic hops to a second region, and a wide partner network, the stopover can turn a standard connection into a mini-vacation. If your itinerary permits, consider routing through Lisbon or Porto to capture the perks and flexibility baked into the TAP Air Portugal stopover.