Portugal to pick winner of TAP privatisation "very soon", official says

Deutsche Lufthansa AG

13/10/2026 10:15

LISBON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Portugal will "very soon" pick the winning bidder for a 44.9% stake in flag carrier TAP, Secretary of State for Infrastructure Hugo Espirito Santo said on Tuesday, describing the ideal buyer as a partner with the scale, investment capacity and international reach to strengthen the airline's competitiveness.
Air France-KLM AIRF.PA and Lufthansa LHAG.DE submitted improved final bids for the stake in late September.
"We are very, very fast approaching the conclusion of that process ... very soon we will be announcing our decision, a key pillar for the future of aviation in the country," Espirito Santo told delegates at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon.
He would not say when the decision would be announced. Portugal's cabinet usually holds its weekly meetings on Thursdays, but could convene and take a decision at any time.
TAP's principal appeal is its prized landing slots connecting Lisbon with Brazil, Portuguese-speaking Africa and the United States. The government has required TAP's future partner to expand operations and connectivity across Portugal's airport network, not only at Lisbon's hub but also in Porto, Faro, the Azores and Madeira.

(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; editing by Andrei Khalip)
((sergio.goncalves@thomsonreuters.com; +351213509204; Reuters Messaging: sergio.goncalves.reuters.com@reuters.net/))