TAP’s bills are moving in the right direction. The guarantee was given this Friday 06 by the Minister of Finance, who assured Parliament that the public company was anticipating the objectives set by the European Commission in the context of the restructuring plan it is targeting.
“The company has achieved more positive results, well ahead of the time set in the recovery plan. This solidity provides better prospects for what the airline’s future will be,” assured Fernando Medina, who will be heard this afternoon at the Budget and Finance , as part of the compensation paid to the former TAP manager, in the amount of 500 thousand euros.
The official assured that TAP’s ability to capitalize on last year’s strong tourism recovery “will be very clear in relation to the 2022 results which anticipated a few years from now what is expected [no documento assinado com Bruxelas]” and assured that at the end of December the state completed the planned capital injections for the carrier, the last of 980 million euros.
“The state has fulfilled its financial obligations in an adequate and timely manner, in terms of public responsibilities,” he added.
At the end of last year, TAP received the last state aid check for a total of 3.2 billion euros. The last injection will be paid in three installments: the first, worth EUR 294 million, was already paid in December; the second, worth EUR 343 million, will be paid on December 20, 2023; and the third, of the same amount, will be awarded on December 20, 2024.
Turning to the company’s annual results, António Costa had also said this would be “good news”, predicting that the carrier will achieve a positive result for the first time in five years. The restructuring plan had set a target for TAP to end 2022 with losses of no more than EUR 54 million, with only expected profits for 2025.
The finance minister will be heard in parliament this Friday, as part of a strong request from the PSD, after the PS this week halted hearings requested by the opposition in the case of Alexandra Reis and TAP.
Last Wednesday, the PS refused the requests of the PSD, PCP, Bloco de Esquerda and Chega to hear in the Assembly of the Republic of the Treasury in addition to Fernando Medina, the former Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Pedro Nuno Santos, the former Secretary of State , Alexandra Reis, TAP’s Chairman of the Board, Manuel Beja, and TAP’s Executive Chairman, Christine Ourmières-Widener.
(updated)
Rute Simão is a journalist for Dinheiro Vivo
Source: DN
