Lisbon, Sept. 9, 2025 (Lusa) - The Lufthansa Group believes it is "the best partner for TAP and for Portugal", highlighting the historic link with the Portuguese airline through Star Alliance and the investment in new maintenance facilities near Porto.
"As advocates of the consolidation of European airlines, we welcome the start of the privatisation process by the Portuguese government. We will carefully analyse the published specifications and look forward to entering the process to assess the requirements defined by the government and the commercial viability of a possible investment," replied the German group when asked by Lusa about the approval of the specifications and timetable for the TAP reprivatisation process.
In the same note, an official Lufthansa source added: "As a long-standing Star Alliance partner and investor in new maintenance facilities near Porto, we consider the Lufthansa Group to be the best partner for TAP and for Portugal."
In addition to its interest in TAP, the German group has been strengthening its presence in Portugal with industrial investments. In December 2024, Lufthansa announced the installation of Lufthansa Technik Portugal S.A., an industrial unit for the repair of engine parts and aircraft components in Santa Maria da Feira.
The project represents an investment of €227.6 million and is expected to create 526 jobs - 325 by 2028 and the rest by 2030. The facility, the company's first in Portugal, is due to start operating at the end of 2027, in the LusoPark industrial zone, and will have activities centred on the inspection, testing, maintenance and repair of aircraft and engine components.
The publication of the specifications in the Diário da República will mark the formal start of the reprivatisation of TAP, which began on 10 July with the cabinet approval of the decree-law establishing the terms of the operation.
The document defines the technical, legal and administrative conditions of the sale, as well as the criteria for qualifying and evaluating bids for the acquisition of up to 49.9% of the airline's capital.
Although it has not yet been made public, the government has already stated that only airline operators with revenues of more than €5 billion will be able to bid, and that the requirements of good repute and financial capacity must also be met.
The sale will be made directly, with 5% of the capital reserved for employees. If this percentage is not subscribed, the future buyer will have pre-emptive rights.
The process will take place in four stages: pre-qualification (up to 60 days), submission of non-binding bids (up to 90 days), submission of binding bids (up to 90 days) and possible negotiation. The government foresees an overall duration of around a year, although subject to regulatory authorisations.
Parpública will be responsible for analysing the proposals and drawing up a technical report to be submitted to the Council of Ministers.
In addition to TAP, the operation includes companies such as Portugália, the TAP Healthcare Unit, Cateringpor (51% owned by TAP) and SPdH, formerly Groundforce.
Interest in the reprivatisation has also been expressed by the Air France-KLM Group and IAG - owner of British Airways and Iberia - which are also awaiting the publication of the tender documents to assess the next steps.
SCR/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
