The strategic partnership with Lufthansa, which involves the sale of 44.9% of TAP's capital, was presented as a crucial step to ensure the continuity of the Portuguese airline, maintaining its brand, identity, and strategic connections for the country. The State will retain 50.1% of the capital for now.
Luís Montenegro emphasized that the process had clear conditions from the outset: defending Portugal's strategic interest, preserving the TAP brand and identity, and maintaining the air hub in Lisbon, without neglecting the potential of other airports such as Porto, Faro, Açores, and Madeira. Connections to the autonomous regions, Portuguese communities abroad, and Portuguese-speaking countries were highlighted as a key asset of the airline.
The agreement safeguards internal social peace and commitments to employees, also aiming to ensure TAP's medium and long-term sustainability. The Prime Minister acknowledged the "trauma" of successive capital injections without guaranteed sustainability, but stressed that financial objectives did not override national interests.
The integration of TAP into Europe's largest aviation group and the world's fourth largest by revenue opens prospects for fleet expansion to over 100 aircraft, the development of new routes, particularly to the United States of America and Brazil, and an increase in market share in Latin America from 9% to 20%, with opportunities in Africa and North America.
The partnership also includes projects in industrial investment, training, and innovation, such as skilled job opportunities in Santa Maria da Feira, a new pilot school in Tancos, an innovation center in Aveiro, and a service center. These projects complement the investment in the new Lisbon Luís de Camões International Airport and the development of other national airports.
