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Lufthansa CEO to satisfy Portuguese ministers over taking stake in TAP, sources say

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr will consult with Portugal's centreright government on Monday to formally signify his business's interest in the privatisation of stateowned provider TAP, according to 3 sources with knowledge of the matter.

Among the sources stated Lufthansa is eyeing a 19.9% stake in TAP, below the 20% limit that would need approval from the European Commission, the EU's antitrust regulator.

Portugal's government and Lufthansa both decreased to comment.

The meeting between Spohr and the two officials who manage TAP Air Portugal, Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento and Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz, was asked for by Lufthansa, a second source stated.

The conference, to be hung on Monday early morning, comes as Portugal looks for to push ahead with the privatisation of the airline, which is fully government-owned, by the end of this year, a 3rd source stated.

The source said that while the sale process is still at a. very early phase, the federal government intends to speed it up as. whatever suggests that there is interest from capacity. buyers.

The first source said Lufthansa's view is that the. federal government may prefer them as a buyer due to the fact that they would. maintain TAP's autonomy, however up until now the official procedure has not. begun.

Italian paper Corriere della Sera reported on Sunday. that Lufthansa had an interest in purchasing a 19.9% stake.

A minimum of two other major market gamers - British Airways. owner IAG and Air France-KLM - have currently. stated they have an interest in TAP.

In July, Portugal's infrastructure minister said that he. wished to privatise TAP quicker rather than later on to take. advantage of market interest in the airline.

Its most attractive assets are its key slots to Brazil,. Portuguese-speaking African nations and the U.S. from its. Lisbon hub.

The current government, which took over in April, has yet to. specify the privatisation model. The sale of at least 51% of TAP. was approved by the previous centre-left administration in. September 2023, but it did not have time to carry it out in the past. a basic election held earlier this year.

European airline companies have said combination is required to assist. the market manage soaring operating costs, however Brussels is. worried that Europe's 3 biggest groups are becoming too. dominant and has actually taken a negative attitude towards mergers.

British Airways owner IAG last month dumped a strategy to take. over Spanish competing Air Europa after refusing the European. Commission's need for more solutions to permit the deal.

TAP said recently its second-quarter net profit fell 10% to. 72.2 million euros as forex losses offset an. operating earnings boost.

(source: Reuters)