The European Commission confirmed this Monday, the 23rd, the reimbursement of 28 million euros from TAP and SATA to the Portuguese State, after state restructuring aid of approximately 3.65 billion euros, so as not to affect community competition.
Following the news published by the Público newspaper, the community executive indicated in a written response sent to the Lusa agency that it approved, at Portugal’s request, the postponement until December 31, 2026 of the sale of the majority of Azores Airlines by SATA Air Açores and until June 30, 2026 of the sale of TAP Air Portugal’s shares in SPH and Cateringpor, maintaining the respective conditions and considerations.
However, “to limit the negative effects of the extension of the deadline on competition, Portugal committed to proportionally reducing the amount of aid and to prolonging the measures aimed at guaranteeing competition until the total disposal of the assets”, explains an official source from the institution to Lusa.
In the case of TAP, what is at stake is “a reduction in aid by 24.99 million euros – around 1% of the total amount of state aid to TAP approved by the European Commission – and a limitation on the number of aircraft operated by the company”.
In the case of SATA, this is “a reduction in aid by 3 million euros – less than 1% of the total amount of state aid granted to SATA by the European Commission – and a limitation on the number of aircraft operated by the company”, also points out the same source.
In the wake of the crisis caused by the covid-19 pandemic and the reduction in global air traffic, Portugal granted state aid to TAP Air Portugal and the SATA Air Açores group to guarantee the continuity of operations.
As for TAP, the European Commission approved, in December 2021, a restructuring plan of around 3.2 billion euros in state support, subject to conditions such as fleet reduction, cost cuts, operational restructuring and sale of assets.
For its part, SATA obtained, in June 2022, approval from Brussels for restructuring aid in the amount of 453.25 million euros, also subject to compensatory measures, including the sale of stakes and operational limitations, with the aim of mitigating distortions of competition in the European Union’s internal market.
In total, the two public supports total approximately 3.65 billion euros.
The newspaper Público reports today that TAP has to return 25 million to the State due to the delay in the sale of Cateringpor and Spdh, remaining subject to a limit on the number of planes until June, while SATA has to reimburse 3 million for failing to privatize.
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