The deadline for expressing interest in the privatization of TAP ends this Saturday, followed by the evaluation of applications by Parpública and the preparation for non-binding proposals.
So far, the formal interest of Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and International Airlines Group (IAG) – owner of British Airways and Iberia – has been confirmed, but the legal deadline for email submission of the declaration of interest is until 16:59 today.
Parpública, the state-owned company responsible for managing state holdings, will now have 20 days, until December 12, to prepare a report describing the interested parties and assessing whether they meet the requirements set in the terms of reference.
After this evaluation, the approved candidates will be invited to submit non-binding proposals within a maximum of 90 days.
The International Airlines Group (IAG) has submitted a declaration of interest in the TAP privatization process to Parpública. It is the third, after Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, and one day before the end of the set deadline.
Notícias ao Minuto with Lusa | 10:35 – 21/11/2025
In July, the government estimated that the process of privatizing TAP – which also includes Portugália, the TAP Healthcare Unit, Cateringpor, and SPdH (formerly Groundforce) – would take about a year, although the final schedule depends on regulatory approvals.
The process envisages the sale of up to 44.9% of TAP’s capital, with 5% reserved for employees.
“Government views with satisfaction what was already predictable”
The Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, stated that the expressions of interest by the three largest European aviation groups in the privatization of TAP “were predictable,” due to the financial results achieved by the airline.
“The good and robust results” of the airline demonstrate that TAP “is an attractive company,” said the minister.
“The government sees with satisfaction what was already predictable, namely that the three largest European groups would present their intentions to participate in TAP’s privatization,” he highlighted.
Miguel Pinto Luz refrained from commenting on the expressions of interest for the purchase of TAP already presented, deferring any comments until after the deadline, on Saturday at 17:00.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, asserted today that the expressions of interest by the three largest European aviation groups in TAP’s privatization “were predictable,” due to the financial results achieved by the airline.
Lusa | 17:38 – 21/11/2025
