The Lufthansa Group has formally expressed its interest in participating as a bidder in the privatization process of TAP Air Portugal. A letter to this effect was submitted to Parpública, the Portuguese state holding company, within the specified time frame. In addition to initially acquiring a minority stake, said an announcement, the aim of the process is to establish a long-term partnership between the Lufthansa Group and TAP Air Portugal in order to secure the successful future of TAP as Portugal’s national airline.

Carsten Spohr, CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, said the Lufthansa Group “welcomes” the Portuguese government’s privatization process. His company’s goal, he said, is to strengthen Portugal’s global connectivity, preserve TAP’s Portuguese identity and ensure the airline’s sustainable growth.

TAP Air Portugal, said Spohr, “is of great strategic importance to the European aviation industry.” As a long-standing partner in the Star Alliance and with its extensive investments in Portugal, he said, “we continue to see the Lufthansa Group as the best partner for TAP and for Portugal.”

The Lufthansa Group has been active in Portugal for more than 70 years and currently has more than 280 weekly flights to and from the country. The company employs over 400 skilled workers in Portugal.

The Lufthansa Group, said the announcement, has always been a driver of consolidation in Europe. It has, said the announcement, successfully strengthened national airlines such as Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and, most recently, ITA Airways, while preserving their national identities.