After ITA (ex-Alitalia), Air France-KLM would look at TAP Air Portugal. Remember that the Portuguese government should launch the reprivatization of the national company before the end of the year.
According to the weekly EspressoConversations have already been held with Air France-KLM and Lufthansa about who would be the “favorite” candidates for this operation that aims to sell at least half of TAP’s capital.
Always according to the Portuguese magazine, IAG (International Airlines Group), owner in particular of British Airways and Vueling, has also expressed “its interest”.
Renationalized in 2020
Questioned by AFP, neither the government nor TAP wanted to comment on this information.
Let us remember that TAP Air Portugal, hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, had been urgently renationalized in 2020 through aid of 2,550 million euros from the Portuguese State. The European Commission had validated it in exchange for the application of a drastic restructuring plan.
In addition to staff reductions, TAP had to commit to freeing up slots at Lisbon airport as required by its competitors, including low-cost airline Ryanair.
In the second quarter, the company reduced its losses to 80.4 million euros compared to just over 128 million in the same period of 2021.
Source: BFM TV
