TAP Air Portugal is marking 80 years since its first commercial service between Lisbon and Madrid, operated on 19 September 1946 with a Douglas DC-3 Dakota registered CS-TDF. The inaugural flight carried 11 passengers and opened TAP’s first commercial route, establishing a link that became part of the airline’s early network across Iberia.
The anniversary revisits a milestone in TAP’s post-war development and highlights the airline’s long association with short-haul connectivity between Portugal and Spain. The Lisbon-Madrid service has remained one of the carrier’s most recognisable European links, while the DC-3 flight continues to feature in TAP’s historical narrative and brand heritage. The commemoration also places attention on the first crew and passengers involved in the service, which now stands as a reference point in the airline’s route history.