ECS Group subsidiary America Cargo GSA has already begun actively promoting cargo capacity on the first-ever nonstop Orlando-Lisbon service, due to launch on 29 October 2026. TAP Air Portugal will then connect central Florida with its Portuguese gateway in under 8 hours, far quicker than any existing alternatives on the market. An Airbus A330 is scheduled to depart every Monday, Thursday and Saturday evening, offering U.S.-based freight forwarders between 45 and 60 tons of weekly cargo uplift.
“TAP Air Portugal is making history this winter by becoming the first airline ever to offer a direct connection between Orlando, home to leading American aerospace, tech and industrial manufacturers, and Lisbon, a well-situated, less crowded gateway into Europe and an excellent bridge to South America,” says Jean Ceccaldi, Chief Executive Officer of ECS Group. “TAP’s new service shaves hours off existing two-leg connections and is therefore a highly attractive alternative, particularly for shippers of high-value, time-sensitive goods such as aerospace parts, electronics, medical technology and industrial machinery, alongside other specialized exports such as seafood and vegetables. America Cargo GSA is working in close collaboration with major forwarders and reports keen interest in TAP Air Portugal’s latest routing.”
“The launch of Orlando marks another important step in strengthening TAP Air Cargo’s presence and supporting our continued growth in the North American market. This new route further supports our strategy of enhancing connectivity between North America, Europe and Brazil, with Lisbon serving as a strategic hub,” says Rúben da Silva Jorge, Head of Sales North America at TAP Air Cargo. “Market feedback has been extremely encouraging. Customers have responded positively to the new non-stop service, and we are optimistic about developing Orlando as both a strong local market and an important gateway within our network. Together with our GSSA partner, America Cargo GSA, we look forward to serving our freight forwarding customers.”
TAP Air Portugal’s outbound flight, TP267, departs Lisbon (LIS) at 14:20 and arrives in Orlando (MCO) roughly 9 hours and 50 minutes later, at 20:10. The return flight takes just 7 hours and 50 minutes. TP268 leaves Orlando at 21:40 and reaches Lisbon the next morning at 10:30, offering multiple connection possibilities to 38 European destinations, as well as to TAP Air Portugal’s daily Rio de Janeiro (GIG) flights.
America Cargo GSA and TAP Air Portugal have been partners in the U.S. for the past five years. The GSA has intensively promoted the airline’s freight division, TAP Air Cargo, selling TAP’s cargo capacity and services across its established U.S. cargo sales and distribution network.
