The Portuguese government has selected the Lufthansa Group to acquire a minority stake in TAP Air Portugal. The deal, which grants Lufthansa a 44.9% share with an option for an additional 5%, concludes a bidding process that lasted over a year and included competition from Air France-KLM and interest from IAG.
For operators and aviation market watchers, this acquisition is a significant development for the Star Alliance network. By integrating TAP into its portfolio, the Lufthansa Group gains a crucial gateway to Brazil and the broader Latin American market. The Portuguese government cited the strength of Lufthansa’s financial proposal and its ambitious growth plan for the airline as primary drivers for the selection.
The agreement outlines a clear expansion strategy for the carrier. The plan targets fleet growth to approximately 130 aircraft and aims to bolster operations at both Lisbon and Porto airports. As the Lufthansa Group moves toward a potential majority stake by 2028, industry observers will be monitoring how the airline aligns its fleet procurement requirements with the broader group’s standardized operating models.