Cologne Bonn Airport has welcomed another new airline partner as it confirms that Portuguese flag carrier TAP Portugal will join the German airport later this summer.

Launching its inaugural route to Lisbon from Cologne Bonn, the Star Alliance carrier will be commencing a double-daily service from July 15th.

Significantly boosting Cologne Bonn’s links to Portugal’s capital city, the airport’s new carrier adds a number of important onward destinations from its hub with almost 85 connections across Europe, Africa and America.

Operated by TAP Portugal’s 106-seat E190, the new link means the gateway will offer a total of 2,702 weekly seats to Lisbon, the carrier immediately gaining a 26 per cent share of all weekly flights to Portugal.

Commenting on the significant announcement, Michael Garvens, chairman of the management board, Cologne Bonn Airport, said: “We’re very pleased to be part of the TAP network.”

He added: “Our new airline partner flies to numerous destinations in Africa and South America via its Lisbon hub, and now passengers at Cologne Bonn can benefit from easy onward connections with TAP Portugal.”