Lufthansa to base eight A350s at Porto under Tap Air Portugal plans

Lufthansa Group intends to hand eight Airbus A350 aircraft to Tap Air Portugal and establish a second base for the carrier in Porto, according to plans set out by group chief executive Carsten Spohr at a media conference on the takeover of Portugal's national airline.

Spohr described the acquisition as the first time the group has bought a profitable airline, calling Tap one of the last major network carriers in Europe still available. Lisbon would become the westernmost and southernmost hub in the Lufthansa Group network, he said.

South America sits at the centre of the plan. Lufthansa currently holds a 9 percent share of the market between Europe and the continent, ranking sixth, Spohr said. Combined with Tap, that would rise to 20 percent, level with the IAG group. Passengers from France, Spain and Portugal are today drawn to Brazil through Frankfurt, Zurich or Munich with discounts, he said, and would in future travel via Lisbon, which lies directly on the route.

Porto is to grow as well, becoming Tap's second base with eight long-haul aircraft stationed there. Spohr described it as a growing market with opportunities toward Brazil and North America.

Tap's fleet is expected to expand. The article is based on a media conference on the takeover and does not give a timeline for the aircraft transfers or the opening of the Porto base.