TAP Air Portugal will launch five return flights per week from Lisbon to Chicago O’Hare on June 1st.

Later the same month, on June 16th the airline will additionally add five weekly trips from Lisbon to Washington-Dulles.

TAP is the leading airline between the UK and Portugal, currently flying direct to Lisbon from London City, Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester, up to 12 times a day.

The new Chicago route will leave Lisbon at 13:05 and will arrive at Chicago O’Hare at 16:05 and the return will depart from Chicago at 18:05 and will arrive in Lisbon at 07:50 the next day.

To Washington-Dulles, the flights will leave Lisbon at 16:30 and arrive at 19:40 and the return will depart at 22:40 and will arrive in Lisbon at 10:50 the next day.

Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive of TAP Air Portugal, said: “We have ten gateways in Brazil with services from Portugal. 

“We believe we can support the same number for the US.

“This means we are planning to add several new destinations in North America. 

“The USA is already TAP’s third major market worldwide and so there is great potential for further growth.

“Our network beyond Lisbon is also growing. 

“We now serve 55 destinations in Europe and 17 in Africa and most of our passengers fly with TAP to final destinations beyond Portugal.”

Tap Air Portugal was recently recognised as the World’s Leading Airline to South America and World’s Leading Airline to Africa by voters at the World Travel Awards.