This was the last leg of the weekend trip to Larnaca in order to renew my Star Alliance GOLD status within Aegean Miles+Bonus program.
Sadly this London Heathrow to Funchal direct flight would also be my last one on that route, as TAP Portugal announced the end of this service, operating the last FNC-LHR flight on the 28th March. The airline says the route was not being profitable due to the schedule of flight departing LHR too early in the morning and not being to change this departure time, due to slot restrictions at LHR. So this will make an end on the 41 year old route of TAP.
After passing some time in the new Lufthansa lounge at terminal 2, it was time to head to the B gates for boarding. As the screens only display the boarding gates 45 minutes before departure time, I didn't knew the gate in advance so did the wrong decision the use the Lufthansa lounge which is located near the A gates, so it took me 15 minutes from the lounge to the B43 gate. The aircraft for the flight was CS-TNT delivered to TAP in 2009. The expected load was 10 in C class and 110 in Y class, not bad.
The sunrise occurred just before take-off, so here the first images of the flight, just after airborn:
The estimated flight time was 3h20:
It was about 1h30 into the flight that the crew showed up, bringing some towels. Breakfast large cold tray came just after it and consisted of ham, cheese and jam, an yogurt and fresh fruit. Hot bread, croissants and cakes were handed over in a basket, offered 3 times, which was a nice touch. Crew were attentive and professional during the service. A selection of orange or pear juice was avaiable as long as tea and coffee.
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The flight progress continued now overflying the northwest of Spain, over Vigo and Cíes islands:
After 3h00 of flight it was time to start descending to Funchal, Madeira:
And then appeared Porto Santo in the far distance and the east point of Madeira island, named Ponta de São Lourenço, just before landing, from east to west this time.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing this report !
Amazing catering on this flight !
See you,
Not bad:) on other TAP flights within Europe, flight time more than 3h00, they serve a hot breakfast instead of this.
You mean Breakfast + Lunch ? Wow !
I'm gonna fly on TAP/PGA in August (OPO - BCN, ERJ 145).
I'm glad to read that TAP is quite good.
You can find here all the information regarding the meal service on TAP flights on C class:
http://www.flytap.com/Portugal/en/Informationandservices/Onboard/Executive/Gastronomy
Cool flight, I never heard of it to be honest. Should be what C.Ronaldo used to get back home during his VERY first days in England, certainly after a couple of weeks he would've started to afford a more private way of getting to FNC :)
Thank you!