(Bloomberg) -- Portugal’s government still hasn’t taken a decision on how much of TAP SA it will sell in a planned privatization of the state-owned airline, Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento said.
The minister reaffirmed that the government has already talked with “the three main potential buyers,” naming them as Air France, Lufthansa and British Airways. Portugal expects to carry out the TAP privatization in 2025, he said in an interview in Brussels on Monday.
Air France-KLM, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and IAG SA, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, have publicly stated their interest in TAP. The Lisbon-based airline’s biggest attraction lies in its links to Brazil, of which it’s the largest European provider. It also maintains a strong presence in Africa and operates a number of flights to North America.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has said the government wants to keep the airline’s hub in Lisbon, as well as routes that are strategic for the country. The previous administration had aimed to sell at least 51% of the carrier.
--With assistance from Max Ramsay.
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