Brussels, July 8, 2025 (Lusa) - The finance minister said on Tuesday that the government would announce its conditions for the reprivatisation of TAP “in the coming weeks”, highlighting the “very significant interest” of three major European aviation groups, something that is “positive for Portugal”.
“It is a process that will begin in the coming weeks. What we know from this last year is that there are several interested parties, and they are major players in the European industry. It is public knowledge that Air France, Lufthansa and IAG have expressed interest in analysing the company and possibly making an offer,” said Joaquim Miranda Sarmento.
Speaking to Portuguese journalists in Brussels after the Ecofin meeting, the Portuguese finance minister indicated that he would share deadlines and details about the reprivatisation once the conditions become known in the coming weeks.
Reporting on the “very significant interest” expressed by the three European airlines, the minister considered it “positive for Portugal to have the three largest European groups interested in analysing the possible purchase” of TAP.
He said that “the best proposal for the country will be the winner” and that the government is “open to all partners”.
Journalists asked about the terms of the sale, and Joaquim Miranda Sarmento indicated that “this will depend on how the process unfolds.”
“We will present the conditions for the sale of the company, and the companies that feel comfortable with these conditions will make their offers. [...] We will see which of them, and possibly all, will submit proposals based on the conditions,” he said.
The reprivatisation of TAP was suspended after the fall of the last two governments.
Originally state-owned, the flag carrier underwent partial privatisation in 2015. However, António Costa’s socialist government reversed the process the following year, and the state regained 50% of the company amid discussions about financial exposure.
Last year, the government led by the current prime minister, Luís Montenegro, announced its intention to launch the reprivatisation process in 2025, with the sale of minority stakes, and has since been negotiating with European giants such as Air France KLM, Lufthansa and IAG.
The government’s argument for such terms focuses on the need to secure Lisbon’s hub and key strategic routes, while recovering around €3.2 billion that taxpayers have injected during the Covid-19 pandemic.
ANE/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
