The financial figures at Tap Air Portugal have been lousy for a number of years and various measures have not resulted in any significant success. The corona pandemic tore the carrier even deeper into the red. The state, which actually wanted to get out completely, gradually took over the helm again.

The measure is, to put it mildly, but not uncontroversial, because the EU Commission is fighting for aid measures amounting to around 3,2 billion euros. At the same time, the wages of the workforce have been radically reduced and many employees have already been cut. In the first instance, the General Court of the European Union overturned state aid due to a lawsuit brought by Ryanair.

Local media are now reporting that Star Alliance partner Turkish Airlines is said to be interested in joining Tap Air Portugal. Among other things, “Jornal de Negócios” writes that the Turkish carrier has already organized financial information and has signaled its willingness to enter via diplomatic channels. One would be willing to put around 1,9 billion euros in the ailing partner and would strengthen the long haul from Portugal.

However, there are no official confirmations from Turkish Airlines, Tap or the Portuguese government. Everyone is silent. When asked, the Turkish airline denied interest in Tap and announced that it was not planning to invest in other companies “for the moment”.