The head of German diplomacy, Johann Wadefuhl, supported the similar position of his Portuguese counterpart, asserting that the acquisition of a stake in TAP by the German airline Lufthansa will serve to strengthen Europe as a region and create new jobs.
During a joint press conference in Berlin, following a meeting with Paulo Rangel, the German Foreign Minister emphasized the existence of 'close strategic cooperation' between Portugal and Germany. According to Wadefuhl, the decision by the Portuguese government to choose the German airline Lufthansa to purchase part of TAP's capital aligns with this direction.
At the same press conference, broadcast via the Youtube platform, the minister noted: 'A lot of resources are being invested in this partnership deal, especially in Portugal, and many contacts, collaborations, and new jobs will arise.' He also mentioned that Lufthansa is building a new factory in Portugal.
Wadefuhl added: 'This demonstrates that our cooperation strengthens Europe as a region. This applies both to TAP and Lufthansa, as well as to other 700 German companies operating in Portugal, investing and thereby stimulating innovation, for example, in microchip production.'
For his part, Minister Paulo Rangel expressed satisfaction with the agreement by the Portuguese government, calling it a 'huge success.' He commented: 'What distinguishes German companies is their mentality. It means they think about the medium and long term. And, of course, this became very evident in this deal.'
The Portuguese Foreign Minister expressed hope that the purchase would be completed next year, 'subject to European regulations,' and wished that the deal would 'bring positive results to both countries, as well as to Europe.' He also stressed that it is 'very beneficial for both companies.'
Together with TAP, Lufthansa will receive 20% of traffic to South America, whereas it currently owns 'only eight to nine percent.' Previously, on Wednesday, the Portuguese government chose Lufthansa for the initial purchase of 44.9% of TAP's capital at an estimated price of 1.025 billion euros, with the stake potentially increasing to 49.9% if employees do not subscribe to all reserved shares.
The group plans to complete the operation in the first half of 2028, depending on obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. The Lufthansa Group includes companies such as Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, and also holds a stake in the Italian ITA Airways, with operational centers in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels, and Rome.