Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has signed into law a government decree mandating the privatisation of TAP Air Portugal (TP, Lisbon).
Interested parties will have 60 days to prequalify, after which they will be given 90 days to submit non-binding proposals for the acquisition of up to a 44.9% stake in the airline. Lufthansa Group, Air France-KLM, and IAG International Airlines Group have expressed interest in becoming shareholders of the airline.
In October 2023, de Sousa vetoed the sale of at least 51% of TAP, citing a lack of transparency and fears about the state's ability to monitor and intervene in a strategic company. Following elections in May 2025, the new government pledged to resume the privatisation, aiming to sell a minority stake in TAP. De Sousa green-lighted the sale after receiving clarifications from government officials about the terms.
