“This is a difficult decision, made in a challenging context, but one that is absolutely necessary to ensure the future sustainability of Cateringpor,” an official spokesperson for the catering services company that serves airlines stated to Lusa.
The financial difficulties of the company, which led to a collective dismissal process, stem from the loss of clients such as Emirates, American Airlines, Etihad Airways, and Air Canada.
In January 2025, TAP incorporated the shares that TAP SGPS held in Cateringpor into its direct perimeter, as part of the restructuring plan approved by the European Commission.
This plan, which allowed for public aid injection totaling approximately 3.2 billion euros during the pandemic, mandates the airline to focus on its core activity of air transport and to divest holdings in non-essential areas such as catering and handling. The sale of Cateringpor is therefore expected to be completed by the end of this year, as a condition set by Brussels for the reprivatization of TAP.
In the same responses sent to Lusa, the company further detailed that the dismissal process will unfold over the coming weeks and assured that it will be conducted “in strict compliance with applicable legal provisions and transparently, in ongoing dialogue with workers and their representatives.”
According to the most recent financial data for 2023, Cateringpor had an average of 1,280 employees, up 25% from the previous year, and reported a net profit of 2.5 million euros, a 5.2% increase compared to 2022.
