Los Angeles, USA, May 17, 2025 (Lusa) - The CEO of Portugal's flag carrier TAP, Luís Rodrigues, is confident that tourism between Portugal and the United States will continue to be strong, regardless of the tighter rules on the admission of tourists to US soil.

"We have to base ourselves on the facts we have and forget a bit about what the newspaper headlines are," the executive told Lusa on the sidelines of the inauguration of TAP's new route between Los Angeles and Lisbon at LAX international airport.

"Newspaper headlines do cause people to panic. But the facts we have don't say that," said Luís Rodrigues.

With the new direct route between Los Angeles and Lisbon, TAP is adding capacity and investment in the United States and he stressed that the occupancy rate during the summer is already over 80%.

"In the world's largest tourism and business market, I think we have to focus on that. Play our part, stay out of politics," said the executive.

"And indeed, promoting the exchange of passengers, experiences and cultures between the United States and Portugal is what we want to do," he added.

Luís Rodrigues emphasised that the launch of this route follows long-term thinking, taking into account the rapprochement that Portugal and California have enjoyed in recent years.

"In aviation, anything short term is doomed and so we're making an investment," which "isn't easy, but we have to follow criteria, and we expect this to go well," he added.

TAP will start with three weekly flights connecting Los Angeles and Lisbon and, from 25 May, it will increase to four, which will continue until October. At that point, the continuity of the route, which for the time being is considered seasonal, will be evaluated.

In recent months, admission rules at the US borders have been tightened and several organisations have revised down their forecasts for tourism in the country this year as a result of these measures.

ARYG/AYLS // AYLS

Lusa