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Airline guide

TAP Air Portugal compensation

TAP connects Europe with Brazil and West Africa through Lisbon, so many of its disruptions fall into the €600 long-haul band.

Quick answer

TAP connects Europe with Brazil and West Africa through Lisbon, so many of its disruptions fall into the €600 long-haul band.

Airline
TAP Air Portugal
Main hub
Lisbon
Potential compensation
€250–€600 per passenger
Route coverage
EU departures; EU-airline arrivals

Does TAP Air Portugal have to pay?

TAP Air Portugal flies from EU and EEA airports, so EC Regulation 261/2004 applies to those departures regardless of where the flight is going. European sectors sit in the €250–400 bands; Lisbon to Brazil, the US or Africa is over 3,500 km. Most of those routes fall in the €250 band, with longer ones reaching €400.

What usually decides the claim

  • TAP is known for slow replies; document every follow-up for the regulator.
  • Portugal's ANAC handles enforcement for departures from Portugal.
  • A missed Lisbon connection on one booking counts towards a single arrival delay.
  • Refunds and compensation are separate: getting your money back does not cancel the compensation.

How to send your claim

TAP requires claims through its online contact form. Responses can be slow — state the 14-day deadline and follow up in writing.

If they refuse

Airlines often reject a first claim with a one-line reference to extraordinary circumstances. Ask them to state the specific cause and the reasonable measures they took. If the answer is unconvincing or none arrives within 14 days, escalate to the national enforcement body in the country of departure — for Lisbon-based flights that is the regulator of that state — or to an approved alternative dispute resolution scheme.

Common questions

TAP has ignored me for months. Is there anything I can do?
Yes. File with ANAC in Portugal, attaching your claim letter and proof of each attempt to contact the airline.
They refunded my ticket. Can I still claim compensation?
Yes. A refund covers the flight you did not take; compensation is a separate fixed payment for the disruption.
How long do I have to claim?
It depends on the country whose courts would hear the case: three years in Germany, five in Spain, six in the UK and Ireland, two in some others. Older flights are often still claimable, so it is worth asking.

Primary sources

Official guidance and legislation used to review this page.