TAP Air Portugal Flight Delayed or Cancelled? Here's How to Claim Up to €600

If you've flown TAP Air Portugal in the last few years, there's a decent chance you've experienced a delay or cancellation. TAP is Portugal's flag carrier and one of Europe's most important airlines for transatlantic connections — but it also has a reputation for operational disruptions that consistently ranks it among the most-delayed airlines operating from Portuguese airports.

The good news? Under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, you could be entitled to up to €600 per person in compensation. And claiming is easier than you think.

TAP Air Portugal: A Quick Overview

TAP Air Portugal is the national airline of Portugal, headquartered in Lisbon. It operates:

• Over 90 destinations across Europe, Africa, North America, and South America
• A major hub at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)
• Secondary operations from Porto (OPO) and Faro (FAR)
• Extensive routes to Brazil (the largest European carrier to Brazil by seats)
• A member of the Star Alliance network

TAP handles millions of passengers every year, with a significant portion connecting through Lisbon between European and transatlantic routes. That hub-and-spoke model means delays on one leg often cascade through connections — creating compensation opportunities for passengers.

TAP's Delay and Cancellation Track Record

TAP has historically struggled with on-time performance. While exact figures fluctuate year to year, TAP consistently appears in rankings of Europe's most-delayed airlines. Contributing factors include:

• Lisbon airport congestion — the airport regularly operates at or near capacity, with a long-delayed new airport still years away
• Fleet and maintenance challenges — TAP's fleet renewal has been ongoing, and aging aircraft create more technical issues
• Labour disputes — TAP has experienced multiple rounds of pilot and cabin crew strikes
• Long-haul dependency — transatlantic routes are more susceptible to cascading delays

For passengers, this means TAP flights — particularly those through Lisbon — carry a higher-than-average risk of qualifying disruptions.

Your Rights When TAP Delays or Cancels Your Flight

As an EU-based airline, TAP is fully subject to EC 261/2004. Here's what you're entitled to:

Compensation Amounts

| Flight Distance | Compensation | Example TAP Routes | |----------------|-------------|-------------------| | Up to 1,500 km | €250 | Lisbon–Madrid, Porto–Paris, Faro–Lisbon | | 1,500–3,500 km | €400 | Lisbon–London, Porto–Amsterdam, Faro–Frankfurt | | Over 3,500 km | €600 | Lisbon–New York, Lisbon–São Paulo, Porto–Toronto |

These amounts are per passenger. A couple flying Lisbon to Newark who arrive 3+ hours late? That's €1,200.

When You Qualify

• Delays: Your flight arrived at the final destination 3 or more hours late (measured when the aircraft doors open)
• Cancellations: Your flight was cancelled and you weren't informed at least 14 days in advance (with some nuances — see our full EC 261 guide)
• Denied boarding: You were bumped from an overbooked flight against your will
• Missed connections: You missed a connecting TAP flight due to a delay on the first leg (on a single booking) and arrived 3+ hours late at your final destination

When TAP Doesn't Have to Pay

TAP is exempt only when disruptions are caused by genuine extraordinary circumstances — events truly beyond the airline's control:

• Severe weather (storms, volcanic ash, heavy fog)
• Air traffic control restrictions or airport closures
• Security threats or political instability

Important: Technical problems, crew shortages, and most airline staff strikes are not extraordinary circumstances. If TAP tells you your delay was "technical" or "operational," they almost certainly still owe you compensation. Learn more about extraordinary circumstances.

Common TAP Routes and Compensation Amounts

Here's what you could be owed on some of TAP's most popular routes:

From Lisbon (LIS)

| Destination | Distance | Compensation | |-------------|----------|-------------| | Madrid (MAD) | 502 km | €250 | | Paris (CDG) | 1,451 km | €250 | | London (LHR) | 1,586 km | €400 | | Amsterdam (AMS) | 1,862 km | €400 | | Frankfurt (FRA) | 1,901 km | €400 | | New York (JFK/EWR) | 5,427 km | €600 | | São Paulo (GRU) | 7,942 km | €600 | | Toronto (YYZ) | 5,740 km | €600 | | Luanda (LAD) | 6,019 km | €600 | | Maputo (MPM) | 8,531 km | €600 |

From Porto (OPO)

| Destination | Distance | Compensation | |-------------|----------|-------------| | Paris (CDG) | 1,136 km | €250 | | London (LGW) | 1,332 km | €250 | | Amsterdam (AMS) | 1,575 km | €400 | | Frankfurt (FRA) | 1,621 km | €400 | | New York (EWR) | 5,337 km | €600 |

For a full calculator with more routes, see our compensation calculator.

How to Claim Compensation from TAP Air Portugal

Option 1: Claim Directly with TAP

You can submit a claim through TAP's website under their customer support section. Here's what to expect:

1. Navigate to TAP's complaints/claims portal
2. Fill in your booking reference, flight details, and nature of the disruption
3. Cite Regulation EC 261/2004 explicitly
4. Request your specific compensation amount in euros

Reality check: TAP's direct claims process is notoriously slow. Response times of 2–3 months are common, and initial rejections are frequent — even for clearly valid claims. TAP often cites "extraordinary circumstances" for disruptions that don't qualify as extraordinary under the law.

If TAP rejects your claim or fails to respond within 6–8 weeks, you can escalate to ANAC (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil), Portugal's national enforcement body for aviation passenger rights.

Option 2: Let FlightOwed Handle It

Skip the frustration. Submit your flight details to FlightOwed and we'll:

1. Verify your eligibility instantly using flight data and disruption records
2. Prepare and submit your claim with all the legal specifics TAP needs to see
3. Handle all communication — including pushback, rejections, and escalations
4. Take legal action if needed — we don't back down when the law is on your side

You don't pay anything unless we successfully recover your compensation. Our fee is 25% of what you receive — so if you're owed €600, you pay €150 and keep €450. If we don't win, you owe us nothing. Learn more about how it works →

Tips for TAP Air Portugal Claims

Keep Everything

Save your booking confirmation, boarding passes, and any communication from TAP about the disruption. Screenshot the departure boards. Keep receipts for any expenses (meals, hotels, transport) during the disruption — you may be able to claim those too under the airline's duty of care.

Note the Actual Arrival Time

Compensation is based on the delay at your final destination, measured when the aircraft doors open. If your TAP flight was delayed by 2 hours 45 minutes but you arrived 3 hours 10 minutes late at your destination, you qualify. Track the actual arrival time — apps like Flightradar24 can help with historical data.

Connecting Flights Matter

TAP's Lisbon hub means many passengers are on connecting itineraries. If your first TAP flight was delayed, causing you to miss your connection and arrive 3+ hours late at your final destination, the entire delay counts. This applies even if the first leg's delay was relatively short — what matters is your arrival time at the end.

Don't Accept Vouchers

TAP may offer you TAP Miles&Go miles or travel vouchers instead of cash. You are not obligated to accept. Under EC 261, compensation must be paid in cash (bank transfer or similar) unless you voluntarily choose an alternative. Always request monetary compensation first.

You Can Claim for Past Flights

In Portugal, the time limit for EC 261 claims is 3 years. So flights from 2023, 2024, and 2025 are all potentially in scope. Think back — that delayed TAP flight you forgot about could still be worth hundreds of euros.

TAP-Specific FAQ

Does TAP compensation apply to TAP Express / Portugália flights?

Yes. TAP Express (operated by Portugália Airlines) flights are covered under EC 261 and claims are handled through TAP. The same compensation rules apply.

What about codeshare flights operated by TAP?

If your flight was operated by TAP (regardless of which airline sold you the ticket), your claim goes to TAP. Check your booking to confirm the operating carrier.

Does TAP cover flights to/from Brazil?

Yes — flights from Lisbon or Porto to Brazilian destinations are long-haul (over 3,500 km) and carry the maximum €600 compensation per person. For flights originating in Brazil to an EU destination, TAP is covered because it's an EU airline.

TAP went through restructuring — does that affect my claim?

TAP's restructuring and partial re-privatisation don't affect your EC 261 rights. The airline continues to operate and remains fully liable for compensation under EU law.

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Check Your TAP Flight Now

Whether it happened last week or two years ago, if your TAP Air Portugal flight was significantly delayed or cancelled, you could be owed up to €600.

Check your flight → Free to check. No win, no fee.

Read more: Your complete guide to EC 261 | How much compensation are you owed? | Ryanair compensation guide