The Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies (APAVT) considers that the privatization plan of the TAP, which was announced on Wednesday, is a “good news” for the sector.
“This privatization plan of TAP, provided it is successful and draw up a strategy for the airline, is good news for TAP, for the industry and to travel agents, “said the president of APAVT, Pedro Costa Ferreira, told Lusa.
David Neeleman and Humberto Pedrosa, entrepreneurs Gateway consortium, signed this fourth the contract to purchase 61% stake in TAP.
The Gateway consortium will invest over 600 million euros in the company, between permanent capital and purchase of aircraft.
The strategy involves the acquisition of at least 53 aircraft and the creation of ten new destinations in the United States and eight to ten new destinations in Brazil.
Referring to the privatization, the president of APAVT said especially since early this year, “TAP felt a great corset” to be in the public sector in time for fiscal restraint.
On the other hand, the company “needed a capital injection to meet growth opportunities” – an issue that has become urgent, as “treasury difficulties” during the recent months, he added.
Asked about plans to increase the number of business destinations, the president of APAVT looked at this strategy as “very good news”. “Here is the proof that there is capital payment can cope with growth opportunities,” he said.
Pedro Costa Ferreira also indicated that the association which he chairs “never insisted that the capital of TAP was public or private,” since the most important “is the economic value and jobs” created by the airline.
The same official also admitted that “privatization has risks,” but “if you do not do anything the risks would be much higher.”
He pointed out however that are not known to have “all the contours” of the entry of new shareholders, or the operation is also approved by the European authorities.
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