TAP flights to São Tomé TMS
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
Programs: AY Platinum, TK Elite, AA, BA, SK, DL, NT, WB + hotels
Posts: 8,668
TAP flights to São Tomé TMS
Great to see TAP have its own forum!
For the past three years or so, I've been planning to go to TMS, but it's not easy to get there. I don't find it an enticing idea to fly a shorthaul configured Airbus with a stop along the way. (And TAAG Angolan isn't exactly something I look forward to, either. ) But I remember having read somewhere, perhaps a year or two ago, that TAP plans to start flying direct, with longhaul configured narrowbodies.
Now TAP has received their first A321LR. Would anyone have any updates about this?
For the past three years or so, I've been planning to go to TMS, but it's not easy to get there. I don't find it an enticing idea to fly a shorthaul configured Airbus with a stop along the way. (And TAAG Angolan isn't exactly something I look forward to, either. ) But I remember having read somewhere, perhaps a year or two ago, that TAP plans to start flying direct, with longhaul configured narrowbodies.
Now TAP has received their first A321LR. Would anyone have any updates about this?
#3
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: GVA,OPO
Programs: BD the last decent FFP
Posts: 1,856
TMS has benefited from a frequency increase due to the narrowbody operation via ACC.
It used to be once a week non stop around 2011
It went from 1 weekly to 3 weekly in 2014
then 4 weekly in 2016 (could only find a link in PT)
So this seems to suit the operation as I see currently still the 4 weekly schedule, not sure TP would have a burning need to go for a non-stop.
There is a non-stop flight from LIS to TMS on STP Airways currently 2 weekly. https://www.stpairways.st/en/ , operated by EuroAtlantic
just for fun, it use to route via ABJ in 1996, 1 weekly :-)
It used to be once a week non stop around 2011
It went from 1 weekly to 3 weekly in 2014
then 4 weekly in 2016 (could only find a link in PT)
So this seems to suit the operation as I see currently still the 4 weekly schedule, not sure TP would have a burning need to go for a non-stop.
There is a non-stop flight from LIS to TMS on STP Airways currently 2 weekly. https://www.stpairways.st/en/ , operated by EuroAtlantic
just for fun, it use to route via ABJ in 1996, 1 weekly :-)
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
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Great to see TAP have its own forum!
For the past three years or so, I've been planning to go to TMS, but it's not easy to get there. I don't find it an enticing idea to fly a shorthaul configured Airbus with a stop along the way. (And TAAG Angolan isn't exactly something I look forward to, either. ) But I remember having read somewhere, perhaps a year or two ago, that TAP plans to start flying direct, with longhaul configured narrowbodies.
Now TAP has received their first A321LR. Would anyone have any updates about this?
For the past three years or so, I've been planning to go to TMS, but it's not easy to get there. I don't find it an enticing idea to fly a shorthaul configured Airbus with a stop along the way. (And TAAG Angolan isn't exactly something I look forward to, either. ) But I remember having read somewhere, perhaps a year or two ago, that TAP plans to start flying direct, with longhaul configured narrowbodies.
Now TAP has received their first A321LR. Would anyone have any updates about this?
I've made the trip twice in the last year or so, and each time there were TP "events" which made a long and uncomfortable journey much, much worse. My economy-class experience was less of a trial the one in business-class - perhaps because it was the second trip, and my expectations were so much lower.
I won't re-hash the awfulness of the business-class journey (a brief report is buried somewhere in this forum), but it started on a super-packed bus, parked for ages in the sun at a remote stand at LIS before boarding, and on the return featured a C-class passenger off-loading himself at Accra with the words "I'll leave you clowns to get on with sorting things out".
Historically, TMS was better served by TP: but this was in the days of generous government "encouragement" to connect Lisbon with the PALOPS - Portuguese-speaking Africa.
Sadly there are only vanishingly small chances of an upgrade to the aircraft used. As you note, competition on the route is virtually non-existent; so while the airline has a limited supply of more comfortable aircraft it could use, these will be employed on routes where there IS competition.
#5
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LIS
Programs: FB LTPE, TP Gold, All Gold
Posts: 1,172
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: HEL
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Alright, thanks for the bad news.
I read somewhere that Euroatlantic will stop operating the direct flights this autumn and that there will be a change of operator. Don't know if that has changed, too, but all I can find is the once-weekly Saturday flight.
I read somewhere that Euroatlantic will stop operating the direct flights this autumn and that there will be a change of operator. Don't know if that has changed, too, but all I can find is the once-weekly Saturday flight.
#7
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: GVA,OPO
Programs: BD the last decent FFP
Posts: 1,856
I thought Euroatlantic was also a shareholder in STP airways
#8
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This is what I read in June. No idea whether it still holds true: https://opcaoturismo.pt/wp/en/euroat...para-sao-tome/
#10
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: GVA,OPO
Programs: BD the last decent FFP
Posts: 1,856
googling a bit:
CEIBA Intercontinental (Equatorial Guinea) to replace Euro Atlantic Airways [EAA] (link in French)
Situation looks a bit messy, EuroAtlantic is the biggest shareholder but appears to be kicked out.
https://macauhub.com.mo/2019/06/13/p...dos-estatutos/
So both Ceiba and STP Airways are in the black list of EU, so their EU services operated by White Airways and EAA.
CEIBA Intercontinental (Equatorial Guinea) to replace Euro Atlantic Airways [EAA] (link in French)
Situation looks a bit messy, EuroAtlantic is the biggest shareholder but appears to be kicked out.
https://macauhub.com.mo/2019/06/13/p...dos-estatutos/
So both Ceiba and STP Airways are in the black list of EU, so their EU services operated by White Airways and EAA.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LIS
Programs: FB LTPE, TP Gold, All Gold
Posts: 1,172
#12
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Location: London
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#13
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LIS
Programs: FB LTPE, TP Gold, All Gold
Posts: 1,172
#14
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Join Date: Aug 2000
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#15
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: LIS
Programs: FB LTPE, TP Gold, All Gold
Posts: 1,172
EuroAtlantic Airways says they'll continue to operate the route regardless of the deal with STP Airways: Presstur - euroAtlantic garante continuidade dos voos para São Tomé, mesmo vendendo STP Airways
This will likely bring to 3 the number of players in this market.
This will likely bring to 3 the number of players in this market.