The coming twelve months could be crucial for the consolidation of the airline industry in Southern Europe. Not just in Italy, where a final decision on the partial sale of ITA Airways is delayed as a new administration has entered office, but also in Portugal. Interest is gearing up for TAP Portugal, although the airline has some work to do to complete its strategic plan. TAP Portugal not ready for sale yet.
That TAP Portugal could be up for sale, emerged again in late September. In a session in parliament, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said that he hoped that the sale of the state’s share in TAP “is a possibility on the table for the next twelve months.” He hoped that the state would recoup more than the €3.2 billion that the state has invested in the airline. With that, he referred to the successful sale by the German state of its share in Lufthansa this summer.
Active as a journalist since 1987, with a background in newspapers, magazines, and a regional news station, Richard has been covering commercial aviation on a freelance basis since late 2016.
Richard is contributing to AirInsight since December 2018. He also writes for Airliner World, Aviation News, Piloot & Vliegtuig, and Luchtvaartnieuws Magazine. Twitter: @rschuur_aero.
