Three days after the Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) have imposed restrictions on the management of TAP, preventing major decisions were taken for three months, one of the company’s owners, David Neeleman, is ensure that everything will progress as planned: is the bond of 120 million euros, is the revision of routes
from New York, where on Monday the airline announced daily flights to New York and Boston, David. Neeleman said that “everything will be resolved” with the aviation regulator.
in Lisbon, President of TAP entered in the same time at a meeting with the administration of ANAC, which was scheduled after, in sexta- fair at the end of the day, it was disclosed the decision of the supervisor, which raised doubts about whether the consortium that won the privatization respects EU rules (the requirement that the airlines are controlled by European investors).
“There will be no doubt about who is controlling this company,” Neeleman said, adding that the Administrator will receive today, “further evidence of that.” Asked what evidence will be presented to the governor, the businessman answered that the FAA wants to “further clarification on who is taking the decisions in the day-to-day”, for example through board meeting minutes.
“we do not take any decisions without the consent of our Portuguese partners. We have evidence of that every day is the Europeans who have the final decision, “he said Neeleman. The entrepreneur is a minority in the Atlantic Gateway consortium, but by your experience, is the strategist of the operation of the TAP. In addition, the shareholders’ agreement it entered into with Humberto Pedrosa, the Portuguese partner, gives you more economic rights.
“Everything will be solved,” he said Neeleman, using as arguments the importance that the company has to the country. “We have nearly ten thousand people whose life depends on the TAP and Portugal, the economy depends on 10% of tourism. I have no doubt that the world will work together to improve the TAP “he said.
Even with the restrictions imposed by the regulator, Neeleman does not seem willing to put TAP on standby. Proof of this are the announcements made on Monday in both the United States, as in Morocco. Asked if they had not solved postpone these ads, the businessman explained that “the FAA was informed of the routes and said ‘okay’.” “They know that it is important for the company and for Portugal.”
Chinese go “this week”
But there is another major decision, the opinion of the ANAC seemed to leave in abeyance: the fresh inflow of money in the company, through a funding of 120 million in convertible bonds. “Let’s put the money,” said the businessman, stressing that “the TAP needs investment.”
The financing operation is closely linked to the entry of the Chinese group HNA in the capital of TAP, by Azul Brazilian airline that Neeleman founded. Publico, Neeleman said that Chinese investors should formalize the entry in Portuguese airline “this week.”
“The Chinese have invested in Blue and Blue will make investment in TAP. They [HNA Group] are very excited about this. Already have connectivity between China and Brazil and take Chinese to Portugal will be great for them. It is a strategic issue, “he said.
The fresh cash injection TAP continues to be an emergency, as the company again had huge losses last year. Although it has not revealed the final numbers, Neeleman said that the biggest losses were “the last 15 years.” “Our focus is to strengthen the TAP to stay here decades,” he said.
Note that the Administrator’s decision came already after the Government announced a new agreement with the Atlantic Gateway, in which the State’s position (currently 39%) will rise to 50%. And so, it is believed that the new model will not raise doubts to the regulator.
Triple US visitors
Soon after announcing the increase of daily flights to the United States, the businessman assured that the decision “will to power triple the number of visitors “in Portugal from that country. Monday was also reinforced the operation in Morocco.
No comments:
Post a Comment