en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Lufthansa Group has commenced construction of a 55,000-square-meter MRO facility in Santa Maria de Feira, south of Porto, while reiterating its strong interest in TAP Air Portugal. The facility will be operated by the Portuguese subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik and is scheduled to begin operations in 2028, focusing on the maintenance of engine parts and aircraft components.

Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr stated that the new MRO center is a "visible and powerful symbol" of the group's presence in Portugal, emphasizing that this commitment reinforces the group's strong interest in TAP Air Portugal. He believes that Portugal has become one of the group's most strategically significant locations outside its home market, and the new facility reflects confidence in Portuguese talent, capabilities, and ambition. Currently, the Lufthansa Group is competing with Air France-KLM for a 44.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal. Both airline groups submitted non-binding offers before the April 2 deadline, with binding offers due by July 29. TAP Air Portugal CEO Luis Rodrigues stated at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in early June that the acquisition process is progressing on schedule. International Airlines Group (IAG) abandoned its bid for TAP Air Portugal earlier this year. Air France-KLM signed a €1 billion multi-purpose credit facility earlier this month, stating that part of it will be used to fund potential merger and acquisition activities in the second half of 2026. The group is also increasing its stake in Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) from 19.9% to 60.5%.