TAP says it “did no harm” to the former CEO and will continue to contest the process

The executive president of TAP said this Thursday, February 26, that the airline “did no harm” to former executive president Christine Ourmières-Widener and guaranteed that the company will continue to contest the lawsuit brought by the former manager.

Asked about the company’s availability for an agreement before the start of the trial, Luís Rodrigues began by explaining that “it cannot be put like that”, when speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the presentation of the strategic plan for 2026 at the Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market (BTL).

“What the airline says is the following: The airline did not do any harm to engineer Christine Ourmières-Widener. Therefore, it does not accept that there is a case against the company itself and that is what we will continue to fight against”he declared.

In a recent interview, Christine Ourmières-Widener stated that she was available to reach an agreement with the airline before the trial, noting that there was never such an opening on the part of the company.

Faced with these statements, the executive president of TAP Air Portugal reiterated the carrier’s position that it does not recognize the basis for the process.

At issue is the action filed by Christine Ourmières-Widener, who challenges the dismissal for just cause announced in March 2023 by the Government, following the opinion of the General Inspectorate of Finance on the compensation of 500 thousand euros paid to Alexandra Reis.

The former TAP manager is asking for compensation of 5.9 million euros, an amount that is disputed by the airline.

The former CEO’s calculations include the amounts she considers to be entitled until the end of the contract (in 2025) and performance bonuses after leading TAP to achieve profits in 2022 – which had not happened in five years -, and having brought forward the goals established in the restructuring plan agreed with Brussels by almost three years.

In addition, it includes a portion for being dismissed without serving 180 days’ notice and for reputational damage.

TAP’s accounts, known in the defense’s arguments in January 2024, point to a total of 432 thousand euros.