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one on one

TREY URBAHN

Chief Strategy Officer, TAP Air Portugal

rier for the new Airbus A300-900neo, taking
delivery of 19 by the end of 2019. These air-
craft, featuring breakthrough airspace cabin
interiors, will provide new market growth. TAP
will also introduce the highly efficient Airbus
A321neo LR, featuring fully lie-flat business-
class seats in addition to premium-economy
and economy seating. These aircraft will allow
TAP to open new, thinner markets too small
for the 300-seat A330neo, including the East-
ern United States and northeast Brazil. The
53 new Airbus A330s, A320s and A321neos
on order will simultaneously improve the ef-
ficiency of our fleet and improve our product.

Tell our readers about the stopover pro-
gram, which recently expanded from three
to five nights. The program is a remarkable
success, with more than 80,000 travelers from
the Americas experiencing a stopover in the
last few years. As TAP flies to more than 65
destinations throughout Europe and Africa,
this is a great way to have travelers consider
Name: Trey Urbahn YOUR BUSINESS AS A TRAVELER our global network and offer a heck of a deal,
Title: Chief strategy officer What innovations/initiatives Favorite travel memory or as Americans clamor to see Lisbon, Porto and
Company, city: TAP Air Portugal; do you foresee in the industry story: Traveling to the island of the rest of the country. Travelers can spend
Lisbon, Portugal over the next years? Airlines fly Fernando do Noronha off the up to five nights in Lisbon or Porto with no
Number of employees: Approx- with a lot of unused capacity in coast of Brazil, a spectacular, additional airfare, and there are also hotel
imately 7,800 airline employees, wide-body airplanes. Some, like undeveloped island with the discounts (or a free night for those booked
with another 4,000-plus at TAP, use a container with stair- best beaches in the world. in business class), free wine with meals at
ground handling, maintenance way access to provide a crew One travel tip you cannot participating restaurants, shopping discounts
and regional subsidiaries rest facility with up to seven live without: I always bring my at a major department store and great experi-
Recent project: Transforming bunks. Similar concepts will own pillow, noise-cancelling ences such as walking tours or complimentary
TAP from a stodgy, state-owned develop for passenger use. headphones and an iPad with museum entry.
airline to a private, innovative, Best career advice you’ve movies, or an ebook.
profitable airline capable of received: Airlines are a passion; Best advice for business travel- What can premium travelers expect from
competing globally do it because you love the ers: Fly to Europe via Lisbon their TAP Air Portugal experience? By 2020
First job: I rotated stock on business. If you want to get rich, on TAP. Our business-class all our long-haul aircraft will be brand-new or
supermarket shelves for a pet work on Wall Street. and economy-plus fares are recently reconfigured, providing a consistent
food company in college. What advice would you give consistently lower, and you can product across the fleet. We’ve recruited six
Little-known fact about you: someone starting out in the stop over in one of the great Michelin-starred Portuguese chefs to bring
I commute weekly from my field? The airline business is undiscovered cities for free. their individual touches to our food in busi-
home in Connecticut to Lisbon. about serving people or serving ABOUT YOUR BRAND ness and economy, and we’re introducing
PHOTO: © CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK I’ve flown more than 5 million take care of your customers, from TAP Air Portugal in 2018? expect the “new TAP” with a renewed com-
new Portuguese wines to our award-winning
Before that, I did the same to
someone who does. Take care
onboard selection. Our premium travelers can
São Paulo. In the past 12 years,
What can travelers expect
of your employees and they will
mitment to deliver a superb flying experience.
who ultimately provide for your
In 2017 TAP installed state-of-
miles and spent more than
We will continue to be the price leader for
1,000 nights commuting to and
bottom line.
the-art lie-flat seats in seven of
customers flying between the United States
its newer Airbus A330-200s. In
from work.
and Europe.

2018 we will be the launch car-
FEBRUARY 2018 globaltravelerusa.com 21