Lufthansa‘s CEO, Carsten Spohr, stated on June 4th that it was premature to discuss Lufthansa’s potential interest in acquiring TAP Air Portugal (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses) because the Portuguese government is still in the process of deliberating on the privatization procedure. The Portuguese government aims to retain a strategic stake in TAP and will not offer its entire capital in the upcoming privatization, as confirmed by Joao Nuno Mendes, the country’s secretary of state for finance.

Spohr mentioned during the annual meeting of the International Air Transport Association in Istanbul that discussions in Portugal were ongoing regarding the specifics of the privatization process, and it was not intended to be a complete privatization where the government would retain no ownership. Notably, Lufthansa, along with Air France-KLM and IAG (the parent company of British Airways), has expressed interest in acquiring TAP Air Portugal.

Lufthansa recently announced its plan to acquire a 41% stake in Italy’s ITA Airways, a significant consolidation move in the European aviation sector. However, this deal is still subject to approval by the European Commission. Once approved, ITA Airways would be integrated into Lufthansa’s global sales contracts, enabling revenue growth for the Lufthansa group.

Spohr also mentioned that several aircraft within the Lufthansa group remained grounded due to supply chain challenges, with approximately 10 planes affected. Additionally, initial deliveries of the Boeing 777X were anticipated in early 2025, although Boeing had initially projected a late 2024 delivery date. Consequently, Spohr clarified that the actual delivery is likely to occur in early 2025.

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