Porto Gains Easier Access to Portugal’s Island Destinations

From 29 March 2026, TAP Air Portugal will make it easier for travellers in northern Portugal to reach the country’s island regions. A new direct route from Porto to Terceira will be introduced, while flights from Porto to Madeira will become more frequent. Together, these changes improve how trips to the Azores and Madeira are planned, especially at the start of the busy summer travel period.

The revised schedule is structured to support both short breaks and longer stays, with clearly defined departure windows that simplify planning. Key operational details from Porto include:

• Porto to Terceira operating four times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
• Departure at 15:20 with arrival at 17:00 local time, resulting in a flight time of just under three hours
• Return departure from Terceira at 17:50 with arrival in Porto at 21:15
• Porto to Funchal increasing to 18 weekly flights, with departures at 12:10 and arrivals at 14:15

What shorter journeys mean for Terceira visitors

Improved access to Terceira makes several of the island’s best known attractions easier to reach for travellers starting in Porto. Angra do Heroísmo, with its historic streets and seafront fortifications, becomes practical for weekend visits. Natural sites such as the Biscoitos lava pools, Algar do Carvão volcanic cave, and coastal viewpoints around Serra do Cume can now be included without complex scheduling.

More choice for Madeira itineraries

In Funchal, the higher number of flights changes how time on the island can be organised. Travellers are no longer forced to pack too much into a limited stay and can move between the historic centre, seafront areas, and hillside locations such as Monte Palace at a more comfortable pace. The extra flexibility also makes it easier to balance time in the city with popular levada walks such as Caldeirão Verde or Ribeiro Frio, even for travellers visiting the island for just a few days.

The new routes focus less on expansion and more on practical travel benefits. For travellers, the main advantage is choice: more departure times, simpler journeys, and better control over how time is spent at the destination. By improving direct access from Porto, the changes quietly make trips to Portugal’s islands easier, more flexible, and better suited to real travel plans.