Germany’s Lufthansa has defeated Air France-KLM in the contest for a substantial minority stake in TAP Air Portugal, positioning it to help shape an airline with important connections between Africa, Europe and the Americas.
- Portugal selected Lufthansa on 14 October as the buyer of a substantial minority stake in TAP Air Portugal.
- The transaction covering up to 49.9% is valued at approximately $1.3 billion.
- TAP reported 14 African destinations within its network as of June 2026.
- Regulatory approval remains outstanding, and no changes to individual African routes have been announced.
Portugal selected the German group on 14 October under a privatisation transaction valued at approximately $1.3 billion for up to 49.9% of the carrier.
TAP’s network included 14 African destinations as of June 2026, making its future relevant to passengers and businesses using Lisbon as a connection to Europe and transatlantic markets. The transaction still requires regulatory approval.
Lufthansa would initially acquire 44.9%. A further 5% is reserved for employees, with the German group entitled to buy shares workers do not take up. Portugal would initially retain 50.1%.
According to the Portuguese government’s announcement, Lufthansa’s financial proposal was up to 16% higher than Air France-KLM’s. The selection also considered the bidders’ industrial plans and contractual terms.
African connections are part of the prize
TAP’s African business includes links to Portuguese-speaking countries and other markets along the continent’s western side.
Its current destination page lists cities including Luanda, Maputo, Accra, Dakar, Bissau, Casablanca and São Tomé, alongside several destinations in Cabo Verde.
Those services connect African passengers with TAP’s Lisbon hub and onward flights. For travellers visiting family, studying abroad or conducting business, the relevant questions include the availability of connections, flight frequencies and the cost of reaching their final destination.
Neither Lufthansa’s selection nor the investment itself establishes that fares will fall or African services will expand.
The distinction matters because an airline’s new shareholder can influence its future strategy without immediately changing its timetable.
From bidding contest to selected buyer
The decision materially advances a process that had remained unresolved last month.
On 6 September, Portugal asked Lufthansa and Air France-KLM to improve their bids after finding their initial proposals too closely matched.
At that stage, no winner had been selected and the financial value of the offers had not been disclosed.
TAP is already a Star Alliance member, alongside Lufthansa. That existing relationship provides a different starting point from a successful investment by Air France-KLM, which belongs to the rival SkyTeam alliance.
Growth plans and a possible further sale
Portugal’s government said the winning proposal preserves TAP’s brand, headquarters and Lisbon hub while supporting expansion.
Its published plan targets a fleet of 117 aircraft by 2035, rising to 130 after 2035. Those figures represent the intended total fleet, rather than additional aircraft.
The government has also outlined a possible second privatisation phase involving a majority stake. That would require a separate process and should not be treated as a completed sale.
The investment follows years of restructuring after the pandemic disrupted TAP’s business. The European Commission approved Portuguese restructuring assistance in 2021 as part of efforts to restore the airline’s viability.