The CEO of TAP, Luís Rodrigues, said that the company will “fly to the largest tourism and business market in the world”, where a “huge Portuguese diaspora community” resides.

“It is very important for us to be able to complete this route and the others that follow it,” said Luís Rodrigues, confirming that it had been a long-standing desire, as, he emphasised, “Boston is a city that not only has the largest market in the world, but is also a fascinating city, even from an academic point of view.”

The first of three weekly flights departed on 14 May, at around 6pm, but the idea, according to the manager, is for TAP to start flying four times a week, assuming that the “challenge” is for it to become “a permanent route all year round”.

The occupancy rate of the first flight was around 80%, he said, stating that Porto “is absolutely strategic” for TAP’s administration.

“For us, Porto will be something that we will look at with great affection but from a long-term perspective”, said Luís Rodrigues, explaining that “in aviation, everything is long and very long term”.