European Airline Consolidation Heats Up With Latest Offer
Lufthansa Group has submitted a non-binding offer for a minority stake in TAP Air Portugal, as part of the airline’s privatization process. The bid was submitted ahead of the April 2, 2026, deadline, with Air France-KLM also submitting an offer. International Airlines Group (IAG) is reportedly considering withdrawing from the process. The Portuguese government is selling a 44.9% stake in TAP, with the winning bidder to be selected by summer. According to AeroTime, Lufthansa’s CEO Carsten Spohr described TAP as a ‘perfect match’ for the group’s expansion strategy.