Lisbon, Dec. 10, 2025 (Lisboa) - TAP expects to exceed 100 aircraft in its fleet by 2026,when it also expects "modest" growth in passengers and revenues, despite the limitations still in place under the restructuring plan.
"If everything goes normally, [the company] will exceed 100" aircraft, said Chief Executive Luís Rodrigues, explaining that the number is still being finalised in the budget and financial projections.
Achieving this goal will not be "difficult" given that the fleet currently consists of 99 aircraft, he explained.
However, he acknowledges that the company remains limited in areas such as fleet expansion, asset purchases or acquisitions due to the restructuring plan agreed with the European Commission in the context of Covid-19, which ends at the end of this year.
"We have the same limitations today as we have had for the last five years," he commented at the end of a lunch with journalists.
Despite this, the manager is confident and highlights the relationship with Airbus, which supplies virtually the entire fleet.
"Relations with Airbus are excellent, always have been and continue to be," he said, in response to questions about the possibility of renegotiating contracts put forward by the airline's former management and recent searches related to the issue.
"The delivery plan that began in 2016 remains in place, with aircraft scheduled until 2030," he said, declining to comment on possible contract renegotiations or leasing values.
For 2026, the scenario points to "growth in passengers and revenue," although this depends on the international context.
"We all know that we are in an increasingly complex global geopolitical environment. Any exercise in guesswork is just that. It's a coin toss. But based on what we have been feeling in recent weeks and months, we want to believe that as the dust settles, people will want to continue travelling," he said.
In this regard, "I think that, within the modest growth we have achieved, given the limitations of [Lisbon] airport and fleet constraints, we will be able to continue another year of growth," he concluded.
As for the opening of new routes next year, he acknowledged that any continent "is a possibility", although it is too early to put forward any options.
SCR/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
