TAP Air Cargo
TAP Air Cargo is the air cargo division of TAP Air Portugal, transporting 92,000+ tonnes of freight per year across 180+ destinations with a portfolio of nine specialized cargo products (pharma, perishables, dangerous goods, live animals, valuables, mail) and digital booking via Cargospot APIs and third-party marketplaces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1945
- HeadquartersLisbon, Portugal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TAP Air Cargo does
TAP Air Cargo is the air cargo division of TAP Air Portugal, Portugal's flag carrier founded in 1945. The division operates from a primary hub at Lisbon Airport (LIS) and serves as the market leader in Portuguese air cargo transport, generating €173 million in cargo revenue and transporting 92,000+ tonnes of freight across 180+ international destinations on 2,787+ weekly flights in 2023. The fleet is predominantly NEO-generation (Airbus A330-900neo, A320neo, A321neo, A321LR) supplemented by Embraer regional jets and dedicated freighters serving Europe-Brazil, Venezuela, and Angola corridors.
The product portfolio comprises nine specialized cargo categories — TAP Airmail & eCommerce, TAP Cool (temperature-sensitive -25°C to +25°C), TAP Dangerous (IATA/ICAO-compliant hazardous goods), TAP Freighters (all-cargo aircraft), TAP Fresh (perishables), TAP General Cargo, TAP Live (animals), TAP Pharma (active and passive cold chain via Envirotainer, Dokasch, CSafe, SkyCell, va-Q-tec), and TAP Valuable — augmented by four premium add-ons: TAP Express, TAP Fast Track, TAP Secure Track (GPS/IoT tracking), and TAP Door to Door. Underlying technology runs on the CHAMP Cargospot platform with 8 proprietary APIs, e-Freight/e-AWB paperless documentation, and integrations with Cargo.one, WebCargo, CargoAi, and TRAXON cargoHUB. The Lisbon hub is certified to IOSA, ISAGO, IEnvA, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 standards, with dedicated pharmaceutical infrastructure and Pharma.Aero membership.
Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based freight charges (weight, volume, cargo type) plus ancillary fees for priority services, GPS tracking, door-to-door delivery, and temperature-controlled solutions. Go-to-market combines direct digital channels (Cargospot Portal, APIs), third-party marketplaces, and a global GSSA partner network. Primary customers are freight forwarders and cargo agents, with vertical depth in pharmaceutical/biotech, perishables, postal/eCommerce, chemicals, luxury goods, live animals, and Europe-Brazil trade shippers. The 14-person dedicated cargo team operates within the larger TAP Air Portugal organization.
TAP Air Cargo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TAP Air Cargo
- Legal name
- TAP Air Portugal
- Website
- https://tapcargo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1945
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TAP Air Cargo is the air cargo division of TAP Air Portugal, transporting 92,000+ tonnes of freight per year across 180+ destinations with a portfolio of nine specialized cargo products (pharma, perishables, dangerous goods, live animals, valuables, mail) and digital booking via Cargospot APIs and third-party marketplaces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TAP Air Cargo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Cargo Transportation Services
- NAICS
- Air Transportation (481)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Scheduled Air Cargo Airlines (All-Cargo Carriers) (THABAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Full-Service Airlines (Passenger + Belly Cargo Integrated) (THABAAAF), General Cargo Air Freight Carriers (Scheduled & Charter) (TLADAAAA)
Keywords
Where TAP Air Cargo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lisbon
- HQ country
- Portugal
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
TAP Air Cargo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Air cargo transportation services: TAP Air Cargo generates revenue by transporting freight and mail on TAP Air Portugal passenger aircraft and dedicated freighter aircraft. Revenue is derived from freight charges based on weight, volume, and cargo type (specialized cargo such as pharmaceuticals, perishables, dangerous goods, valuables, and live animals command premium pricing). The company also earns ancillary fees for priority services (Fast Track, Express), door-to-door delivery, GPS tracking (Secure Track), and temperature-controlled solutions.
- Cargo mail and eCommerce transport: Revenue from airmail and eCommerce logistics services, leveraging over 60 years of experience in international airmail transport for postal operators and eCommerce businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard cargo transport |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | TAP Express priority service |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | TAP Fast Track premium service |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | TAP Secure Track tracking complement |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | TAP Door to Door |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels7 records
TAP Air Cargo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TAP Air Cargo is the air cargo division of TAP Air Portugal, transporting freight and mail on passenger aircraft and dedicated freighter aircraft across 180+ international destinations with 2,787+ weekly flights. The company sells a portfolio of nine specialized cargo products (TAP Airmail & eCommerce, TAP Cool, TAP Dangerous, TAP Freighters, TAP Fresh, TAP General Cargo, TAP Live, TAP Pharma, TAP Valuable) complemented by premium add-on services (TAP Express, TAP Fast Track, TAP Secure Track, TAP Door to Door) and digital platforms (Cargospot Portal, e-AWB, e-Tracking, TAP Cargo App, GRU Connect).
Product overview
TAP Air Cargo is the air cargo division of TAP Air Portugal, operating as a portfolio of specialized cargo transport products and digital services across 180+ international destinations on 2,787+ weekly flights (primarily on NEO-generation passenger aircraft) supplemented by dedicated freighter services. The core product suite spans nine specialized cargo types: TAP Airmail & eCommerce (mail/parcels), TAP Cool (temperature-sensitive cargo from -25°C to +25°C), TAP Dangerous (hazardous goods), TAP Freighters (all-cargo aircraft), TAP Fresh (perishables), TAP General Cargo (loose/palletized), TAP Live (live animals), TAP Pharma (pharmaceuticals with active and passive cold chain), and TAP Valuable (high-value cargo). These are complemented by premium add-on services — TAP Express (express priority), TAP Door to Door (end-to-end delivery), TAP Fast Track (premium priority handling), and TAP Secure Track (GPS/IoT real-time tracking with anomaly alerts) — plus digital platforms including the e-Freight/e-AWB paperless initiative, the Cargospot Reservation Portal, e-Tracking, the TAP Cargo mobile app, and multi-routing solutions such as GRU Connect to São Paulo. The portfolio is connected to global booking marketplaces (Cargo.one, WebCargo, CargoAi) and CHAMP Cargospot/TRAXON cargoHUB for electronic data interchange, with eight public Cargospot APIs available for direct system integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TAP Airmail & eCommerce: International airmail and eCommerce shipping service with over 60 years of experience.
- TAP Cool
- TAP Dangerous
- TAP Freighters
- TAP Fresh
- TAP General Cargo
- TAP Live
- TAP Pharma
- TAP Valuable
- TAP Express
- TAP Fast Track
- TAP Secure Track
- TAP Door to Door
Products and services
- TAP Airmail & eCommerce International air mail and eCommerce courier service combining 60+ years of experience with the latest technology for rapid and secure delivery of parcels across TAP's global network, handling all customs documentation from start to finish.
- TAP Cool Temperature-sensitive cargo transport service maintaining controlled temperature levels (from -25°C to +25°C) throughout the entire journey using active refrigerated containers (Opticooler, Envirotainer) or passive insulated packaging (va-Q-tainer), covering frozen/refrigerated food, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic products, vaccines, and biotech equipment.
- TAP Dangerous Specialized dangerous goods air transport compliant with IATA and ICAO regulations, handling all hazard classes (explosives, gases, flammables, corrosives, oxidizers, toxic/infectious substances, radioactives, magnetized materials) with specialist teams ensuring safe acceptance, loading, and segregated storage.
- TAP Freighters Dedicated all-cargo aircraft transport service for maximum freight capacity, specializing in Europe-to-Brazil, Venezuela, and Angola routes, capable of handling live animals, dangerous goods, valuables, and temperature-sensitive cargo with rapid and secure delivery.
- TAP Fresh Perishable cargo air transport with rigorous temperature monitoring and specialized retention techniques to optimize shelf life of sensitive products including food, flowers, and liquids, using refrigerated trucks between aircraft holds and cargo facilities across Europe.
- TAP General Cargo General cargo air transport for loose or palletized shipments on TAP passenger aircraft, offering simple speed-and-price structures for individual or recurring shipments with coverage across 180+ international destinations and 2,787+ weekly flights.
- TAP Live Air transport of live animals including pets, horses, exotic animals, ornamental fish, insects, and livestock, with maximum priority, minimal noise and disturbance, and full compliance with IATA Live Animals Regulations and CITES.
- TAP Pharma Pharmaceutical cargo air transport meeting the highest safety and reliability standards, offering TAP Pharma Active (active refrigerated containers from Envirotainer, Dokasch, CSafe, SkyCell) and TAP Pharma Passive (qualified passive packaging) with continuous monitoring and certified station infrastructure at Lisbon Hub.
- TAP Valuable High-value cargo air transport with exclusive logistics conditions, maximum security, and specialized handling from acceptance through delivery, covering precious goods, valuable items, and other cargo requiring heightened care.
- TAP Door to Door End-to-end delivery service from sender to final recipient via customs-bonded warehouse, available across Europe, United States, Brazil, and Middle East, either standalone or as a complement to TAP air cargo transport services, with full e-Tracking visibility throughout.
- TAP Secure Track Premium tracking add-on using disposable GPS-enabled IoT sensor tags (Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS connectivity) providing real-time location monitoring, continuous temperature tracking, light/tampering detection, and shock/impact monitoring with configurable email alerts for cargo including pharmaceuticals, biotech, electronics, and high-value goods.
- GRU Connect Multi-routing cargo solution to São Paulo GRU hub offering four route options: direct Lisbon-GRU, and three air-air connections via Salvador (SSA), Fortaleza (FOR), and Brasília (BSB), designed to provide flexible, reliable, and competitive transport between Europe and South America's primary economic hub.
- TAP Air Cargo Reservation Portal (Cargospot Portal) Online self-service booking portal (Cargospot by CHAMP) available 24/7 offering flight availability and quotes, real-time booking and confirmation, Master/House Air Waybill management, CSV upload for large volumes, template-based recurring bookings, and cargo tracking with status updates.
Quantifiable outcome
- 92,000+ tonnes of cargo transported in 2023
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use TAP Air Cargo
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
TAP Air Cargo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
TAP Air Cargo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Pharma.AerocoreTAP Air Cargo joined Pharma.Aero, a global community focused on strengthening pharmaceutical logistics supply chains. Membership enables collaboration with industry partners, promotion of best practices, and contribution to more efficient, resilient, and transparent global health supply chains.
- GRU Connect partnerscoreTAP Air Cargo established a partnership enabling 3 new routes to São Paulo (GRU) via air-air connections. The GRU Connect solution offers four routing options: direct Lisbon-Sao Paulo, and connections via Salvador (SSA), Fortaleza (FOR), and Brasilia (BSB), providing more options and capacity for Europe-Brazil cargo operations.
- TCM Logistics ServicesminorNew GSSA (General Sales and Service Agent) partnership in Kazakhstan, extending TAP Air Cargo's distribution network in Central Asia.
- Sky XpressminorNew GSSA partnership in Pakistan, expanding TAP Air Cargo's sales network in South Asia.
- Dingle Oceanworld AquariumminorPartnership for the transport of marine turtles from Ireland to Portugal for rehabilitation purposes, demonstrating TAP Air Cargo's capabilities in special live animal operations.
- ZoomarineminorCollaboration with Zoomarine for marine wildlife conservation, receiving rehabilitated turtles transported by TAP Air Cargo to the Porto d'Abrigo rehabilitation center in Algarve.
- CHAMP CargosystemscoreStrategic technology partnership providing the Cargospot platform (airline cargo management system) and 8 proprietary APIs for customer integration. The CargoSpot Portal enables online bookings, while the API library provides 24/7 direct system connectivity for availability, pricing, reservations, capacity, and visibility.
- TRAXON cargoHUBcorePartnership with TRAXON's cargoHUB platform for electronic data interchange across the global air cargo community, improving productivity and reducing operational costs.
- Star AlliancecoreStar Alliance membership provides TAP Air Cargo with access to the world's largest airline alliance network, enabling seamless cargo connectivity across member airlines' routes globally.
- TIACA (The International Air Cargo Association)minorTIACA membership connects TAP Air Cargo with the global air cargo industry's trade association, supporting industry development and best practice sharing.
- EnvirotainercorePartnership for active temperature-controlled containers (RKN RelEye, RKN E, RAP) used in TAP Pharma and TAP Cool services. Envirotainer provides containers with up to 170 hours autonomous power, real-time monitoring, and 24/7 Control Tower support.
- DokaschcorePartnership for active temperature-controlled containers used in pharmaceutical cold chain transport.
- CSafecorePartnership for active temperature-controlled container solutions for pharmaceutical cargo requiring continuous cold chain monitoring.
- SkyCellcorePartnership for active temperature-controlled container solutions in TAP's pharmaceutical logistics offerings.
- va-Q-tec (va-Q-tainer)corePartnership for passive temperature-controlled containers (va-Q-tainer) offering thermal protection for temperatures from -25C to +25C with up to 5 days of stability, used in TAP Cool and TAP Pharma Passive services.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TAP Air Cargo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cargolux: Cargolux is a Luxembourg-based all-cargo airline specializing in scheduled and charter freight services. Comparable to TAP Air Cargo's TAP Freighters product as a dedicated air cargo operator focused on special cargo (pharma, perishables, valuables) though without a parent passenger airline backbone.
- Emirates SkyCargo: Emirates SkyCargo is the air freight division of Emirates airline, operating a dedicated freighter fleet alongside belly cargo from a Dubai hub. Comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a flag-carrier belly cargo operator with pharma cold-chain capabilities (Emirates Pharma), though at significantly larger scale.
- LATAM Cargo: LATAM Cargo is the air cargo division of LATAM Airlines Group, with dedicated freighters and belly cargo across South America. Directly comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a South American-focused cargo operator with significant Europe-Brazil corridor positions and similar product portfolio including pharma and perishables.
- Qatar Airways Cargo: Qatar Airways Cargo operates a young dedicated freighter fleet and belly cargo from Doha Hamad International Airport. Comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a flag-carrier cargo division with Pharma Express product, specializing in high-value, time-sensitive, and temperature-controlled cargo on a global network.
- IAG Cargo: IAG Cargo is the cargo business of International Airlines Group (British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, LEVEL, Vueling). Directly comparable as a European airline group cargo division with belly cargo operations, pharma specialization (Constant Climate), and a global scheduled network.
- Cathay Cargo: Cathay Cargo is the air freight division of Cathay Pacific, operating dedicated freighters and belly cargo from its Hong Kong hub. Comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a flag-carrier cargo operation with strong pharma cold-chain (Cathay Pharma Express, Envirotainer partner) and similar product segmentation across general, special, and temperature-sensitive cargo.
- Lufthansa Cargo: Lufthansa Cargo is the air freight division of Lufthansa, operating a combination of dedicated freighters and belly cargo on passenger aircraft across a global network. Closely comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a European flag-carrier belly cargo operator with pharma cold-chain specialization (Lufthansa Cargo is a CEIV Pharma founding member).
- Air France KLM Cargo: Air France KLM Martinair Cargo operates belly cargo and dedicated freighters as the cargo arm of the Air France-KLM Group. Comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a European flag-carrier cargo division with multi-hub operations (Paris CDG, Amsterdam Schiphol), pharma expertise, and similar product portfolio including general, special, and e-commerce cargo.
Broad incumbents
- DHL Aviation: DHL Aviation is the air freight arm of Deutsche Post DHL Group, operating a wide-body freighter network globally as part of the world's largest integrated logistics provider. Comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a major air cargo carrier, though structurally different as a dedicated integrator with end-to-end door-to-door capability.
Emerging players
- Brussels Airlines Cargo: Brussels Airlines Cargo is the cargo division of Brussels Airlines (Lufthansa Group) operating belly cargo from Brussels Airport. Comparable to TAP Air Cargo as a smaller European flag-carrier cargo division with similar Africa-Europe corridor exposure and Africa-focused product offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
TAP Air Cargo social profiles
Digital presenceTAP Air Cargo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
TAP Air Cargo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TAP Air Cargo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
TAP Air Cargo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
TAP Air Cargo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TAP Air Cargo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TAP Air Cargo
What does TAP Air Cargo do?
TAP Air Cargo is the air cargo division of TAP Air Portugal, transporting freight and mail on passenger aircraft and dedicated freighter aircraft across 180+ international destinations with 2,787+ weekly flights. The company sells a portfolio of nine specialized cargo products (TAP Airmail & eCommerce, TAP Cool, TAP Dangerous, TAP Freighters, TAP Fresh, TAP General Cargo, TAP Live, TAP Pharma, TAP Valuable) complemented by premium add-on services (TAP Express, TAP Fast Track, TAP Secure Track, TAP Door to Door) and digital platforms (Cargospot Portal, e-AWB, e-Tracking, TAP Cargo App, GRU Connect).
Is TAP Air Cargo a public or private company?
TAP Air Cargo is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was TAP Air Cargo founded?
TAP Air Cargo was founded in 1945. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TAP Air Cargo based?
TAP Air Cargo is headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, in the Europe region.
How does TAP Air Cargo make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Air cargo transportation services are the primary driver. The others are cargo mail and eCommerce transport.
Who are TAP Air Cargo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cargolux, Emirates SkyCargo, LATAM Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo, IAG Cargo, Cathay Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo and Air France KLM Cargo. DHL Aviation is listed as a broad incumbent. Brussels Airlines Cargo is listed as an emerging player.
Does TAP Air Cargo have an API?
Yes. TAP Air Cargo offers eight Cargospot APIs (via CHAMP Cargosystems partnership) enabling direct system integration for availability, pricing, reservations, capacity, and cargo visibility. Integration is available 24/7. Additionally, CargoAi connects via APIs for e-booking. The TRAXON cargoHUB platform (TRAXON by CHAMP) provides electronic data interchange for the global air cargo community. Developer documentation is at cargospot-portal.champ.aero/en/tap-cargo.
What industry is TAP Air Cargo in?
TAP Air Cargo's product category is Air Cargo Transportation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAEAA, Scheduled Air Cargo Airlines (All-Cargo Carriers), with a secondary code of THABAAAF, Full-Service Airlines (Passenger + Belly Cargo Integrated). Its NAICS code is 481 and its SIC code is 4512.