TAP Air Portugal Will Join a Major Airline Group “Soon,” CEO said
Portuguese airline TAP Air is on the verge of a historic change. Its CEO, Luis Rodrigues, stated this Wednesday that the company will “soon” become part of a major airline group, aligning with the Portuguese government’s plan to sell a minority stake in the state-owned company.
A Privatization Process Underway
The government will offer 49.9% of TAP’s shares, as confirmed by Parpública, the state-owned company managing the process. Interested parties must be airlines or airline groups with a minimum turnover of 5 billion euros in at least one of the last three years. They have until November 22nd to submit their declaration of interest.
During his speech at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, Rodrigues made it clear that the era of total independence for airlines has come to an end:
“The challenge is that you will soon be integrated into a major aviation group. The days of being proudly alone are over. There was a time when that was possible. Now, it is not.”
The executive avoided providing further details on the terms of the privatization or the operation’s timeline.
→ TAP Air Portugal Introduces Airspace Cabins with XL Bins and Enhanced Onboard Comfort
Interest from European Giants
Three of the continent’s major airline groups – Air France-KLM, Deutsche Lufthansa, and IAG, the owner of Iberia and British Airways – have publicly expressed their interest in acquiring a stake in TAP.
The appeal of the Portuguese company lies in its strategic position as the leading European operator of flights to Brazil, a key market in transatlantic connectivity. TAP’s potential integration into one of these groups could strengthen routes between Europe and South America and increase competitiveness against global rivals.
IAG’s CEO, Luis Gallego, attended the conference but declined to comment on the process.
Traffic Evolution and Outlook
Regarding operational performance, Rodrigues acknowledged a slight traffic dip in Northern Europe and on Atlantic routes. However, he highlighted that the Brazilian market is showing clear signs of recovery.
“We are seeing some stabilization in traffic,” he explained. “Overall, there is slight growth. It’s possible we will finish the year approximately 1% above the previous fiscal year.”
With these figures, TAP aims to consolidate its position before its integration into an international group, as Portugal advances in a process that could redefine the European air travel map.
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