TAP Portugal has signed an agreement with Airbus to be the first operator of the new A330neo airliner and therefore the launching carrier to fly the Airspace by Airbus cabin brand in the A330neo.

In 2015, the airline placed a large fleet renewal contract with Airbus which included an order for 14 A330-900neos.

Trey Urbahn, Chief Commercial Officer at TAP Portugal said: “We are extremely proud to be the first airline to fly the Airspace by Airbus cabin in the A330neo.”

François Caudron, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Airbus said: “We are delighted to confirm that TAP will become the first airline to introduce the Airspace by Airbus cabin in the A330neo."

Highlights of TAP’s Airspace cabin will include a new welcome area; the latest mood LED-based lighting system with 16.7 million possible colour variations; larger overhead bins; new contemporary lavatories and latest-generation IFE and connectivity.

The relationship between Airbus and Portugal dates back to 1987 when TAP, then Air Portugal, ordered three Airbus A310s.

Today TAP is an all Airbus fleet customer and the largest in Portugal with 61 aircraft currently in service, including 43 from the A320 family and 18 of the widebody family.

The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus Widebody Family launched in July 2014 with first deliveries scheduled to start at the end of 2017.