What is it about Portugal?
Since the partnership between JetBlue and TAP Air Portugal began last June, more than 35,000 U.S. travelers connected from JetBlue to TAP Air Portugal and the numbers are growing as U.S. travelers discover this European gem.
The two airlines have a codeshare agreement on flights from 38 U.S. cities that feed TAP's three U.S. gateways and open up a number of European gateways to travelers.
The airline says that two-thirds of TAP connecting passengers are from JetBlue flights. That is one out of every five travelers to Portugal overall.
"TAP has doubled our passenger traffic from the U.S. in one year and that is very pleasing to us-especially with our high average load factor of 85 percent from the U.S.," said Jose Guedes Dias, Vice President Alliances, Government, Industry and Regulatory Affairs at TAP Air Portugal. "We're very happy with the success of our agreement with JetBlue in delivering so many customers to our gateway cities."
Dias' counterpart at JetBlue feels the same way.
"With growth in multiple U.S. markets in just the first year, JetBlue and TAP are bringing valuable connectivity to customers both in the U.S. and abroad," said Tracy Bink, Director Alliances and Partnerships for JetBlue. "JetBlue's successful relationship with TAP underscores the importance of our airline partnerships and our commitment to provide award-winning service to travelers around the world," added Bink.
Portugal is a rising star.
The country is well on its way to becoming a trending destination for U.S. travelers. In addition to offering great connectivity with TAP and JetBlue, Portugal is seen as extremely safe. It also offers excellent culinary experiences and has vibrant coastal communities.
Portugal's visitor numbers are on the rise. Tourism grew 10 percent in 2015 and 2016, and U.S. visitation increased 22 percent.
The destination was also named as Travel+Leisure's destination of the year in December of last year and most recently, CNN's Bill Weir told TravelPulse in an interview that Portugal was one of the destinations he keeps "hearing bubbling up."
It's not surprising to find Portugal on the tips of travelers' tongues. Last year, TravelPulse noted that the country was becoming one of the hottest culinary destinations in Europe. While the Douro Valley is well known for wine, it's farm-to-table traditions are becoming more widely known while visitors are flocking to small farms and standout restaurants.
Hotels are catching on too. Iberostar recently opened its newest in Lisbon. The hotel is the brand's seventh in an urban setting and its first in Portugal. It features 166 rooms in the heart of the city, offering a luxurious setting from which to explore the country's capital city.
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