[2] The airline was established on 25 July 1988 as a joint-stock company, but had to wait two years before it could start services, due to a delay in air transport liberalization.

The company's first airplanes were Fokker 100, and since the late 1990s it has also purchased 8 Embraer 145, becoming the main competitor of state flag carrier TAP Air Portugal.

Performing most of its Fokker and Embraer maintenance in house, Portugália managed to significantly improve its results.

On 21 March 2014, TAP Air Portugal announced that it would buy two ATR 42-600 for its subsidiary company Portugália replacing the smaller Beechcraft 1900D previously operated by PGA Express.

In April 2022, it was announced that Portugália would be dissolved and fully integrated into TAP Portugal as part of cost cutting and restructuring measures.