12 companies interested in a slice of Portuguese airline TAP

A dozen national and international entities are interested in acquiring a slice of the Portuguese national carrier TAP which is to be part-privatised next year.

These are in addition to the three main mega-airline groups Air France-KLM, IAG, and Lufthansa.

“This strong interest goes to show that TAP is attractive”, said Portugal’s Minister of Infrastructures, Miguel Pinto Luz in parliament.

But he said that the airline’s sale would not be made at “any cost”.

Whatever the final privatisation model adopted by the Portuguese State, the minister assured that there were “guarantees” that would be imposed on any future buyer(s).

“The TAP brand will continue, national air routes and those to the Portuguese-speaking world and countries with large Portuguese communities will neither be reduced or overlooked”.. and “Lisbon will continue to be a hub”, he said.

As to the privatisation process, which was put in moth balls following the fall of the António Costa government late last year, the government has requested fresh valuations for the company and expects to complete the sale process in 2025.