en.Wedoany.com Reported - Lufthansa is competing for the privatization of TAP Air Portugal, with Group CEO Carsten Spohr stating he is ready to step in at any time. "I am ready. If the Prime Minister wants, I can start this afternoon," Spohr said at a press conference in Portugal on Monday. Lufthansa Technik has just built a new maintenance center there.

Spohr emphasized that Lufthansa has a "very strong interest" in TAP and that the company is a suitable partner. He believes Lisbon has the potential to become Lufthansa Group's seventh intercontinental hub, following Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome. However, what attracts Lufthansa more is TAP's network of routes to South America and Africa. Lufthansa is already linked to TAP through the Star Alliance. Spohr noted on site that the group operates approximately 350 flights per week to Portugal, a 6% increase compared to 2025 and even 75% higher than in 2019.

According to Portuguese economic newspaper Eco, Lufthansa has proposed to TAP that it be included in the transatlantic joint venture "A++" cooperation with United Airlines and Air Canada. The report stated that Lufthansa and United Airlines had considered acquiring TAP in 2019, but the pandemic disrupted those plans.

Lufthansa and the Air France-KLM Group are competing to acquire an estimated 44.90% minority stake in TAP, with both groups having submitted bid documents to the Portuguese government. Binding offers are expected to be submitted by the end of July 2026, with a final decision not anticipated before early September 2026. Analysts estimate the equity value of this privatization tender to be up to €700 million.