Porto, Portugal, May 13, 2026 (Lusa) - The CEO of Lufthansa Ground Services Portugal (LGSP), Paulo Geisler, said on Wednesday that the German airline group's purchase of 90% of Italy's ITA "does not invalidate" interest in TAP, Portugal’s flag carrier, nor does it weaken a future Lisbon hub.
"We want to continue growing, we will continue to grow, and ITA is a success story and, therefore, in no way invalidates the TAP process," Geisler said.
He was speaking to journalists during a ceremony marking 45 years of Lufthansa flights to Porto and 15 years of LGSP at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (Porto) on Wednesday.
The Lufthansa group announced on Tuesday it would exercise its option to buy a majority stake in Italy's ITA Airways in June, increasing its stake from 41% to 90% for €325 million.
Asked about the impact on plans for Portugal's TAP — where the German group is a privatisation candidate — and whether a Lisbon hub would weaken in favour of Milan, Geisler said the two "have nothing to do with each other."
He said the hubs are complementary, like all Lufthansa group companies, and would not weaken anything. He noted that Portugal’s airline has been part of the Star Alliance (network) for 20 years.
Geisler said Porto airport "has always been important" to the group, citing the 45th-anniversary ceremony as proof.
He noted that Lufthansa was the only company that never stopped flying to Porto, even during the Covid pandemic or the 2010 volcanic ash crisis, when the airline used buses to Germany to ensure connections.
Regarding the 20,000 flight cancellations Lufthansa announced until October to save fuel due to rising prices from the Middle East war, Geisler said these represent 1% of the group's flights and "the impact in Portugal was zero."
When asked about potential new cancellations, he said fuel supplies are secure for the coming months because Lufthansa is strong at purchasing and forecasting fuel needs. The airline would not have fuel problems until the last quarter of 2026.
Air France-KLM and Lufthansa are the two contenders in the race to privatise TAP, after IAG (International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways and Iberia) failed to submit a proposal.
Portugal's government wants to sell up to 49.9% of the company’s capital, with 44.9% for a major investor and 5% reserved for workers. The process will consider price, the industrial plan, connectivity and the buyer's financial capacity.
The cabinet expects to complete the sale in 2026 and may decide on the buyer during a cabinet meeting in late August.
PD/LYT // AYLS
Lusa
