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Portugal selects Lufthansa's bid for TAP stake

The Portuguese government has selected Lufthansa's bid for a stake in TAP Air Portugal ahead of the Air France-KLM Group. The government said it had selected Lufthansa's bid for a minority stake as part of the privatisation of TAP due to Lufthansa's higher offer, which is reportedly 16% up on the Air France-KLM bid, and less uncertainty. Lufthansa Group has offered a purchase price of €1bn for a 44.9% stake, but this amount could increase to up to €1.2bn for the acquisition of a 49.9% stake. The deal also includes a proposal for the acquisition of a majority stake in TAP, under a possible second phase divestment. Lufthansa said it would support TAP's growth while preserving its national identity and strengthening Portugal's connectivity, particularly with North and Latin America. Carsten Spohr, chairman of the executive board and chief executive of Deutsche Lufthansa, said: "TAP Air Portugal is a strong and profitable airline, our long-standing partner in Star Alliance and internationally successful as a leading carrier on South Atlantic routes. "This allows us to consistently pursue our internationalisation strategy and sustainably strengthen our position in the South Atlantic market. Our company has enjoyed a close and trusted partnership with Portugal for many years." Cargo impact In terms of cargo, the deal will allow Lufthansa Cargo to expand its offering between Europe and South America - in particular Brazil - and Africa from TAP's Lisbon and Porto hubs. The airline currently serves 14 destinations to Brazil and is considered the leading European carrier for the country. Meanwhile, TAP will gain access to Lufthansa's strong network heading east and its fleet of freighters, allowing it to expand the types of cargo it can carry. Digital systems will, however, need to be aligned as both utilise different platforms. As part of the deal, one of the last European airline privatisation projects, 5% of shares will be reserved for employees. Lufthansa will appoint three executive directors. The government will retain five of the nine board of directors, including the chairman. The transaction is expected to close at the beginning of 2028. Lufthansa has also committed to expanding TAP's fleet to 117 aircraft by 2035 and 130 aircraft after 2035. It currently stands at around 100 aircraft.

My Freighter is approved for UK operations

Uzbekistan-based cargo airline My Freighter has been approved to operate in the UK as it continues with plans to expand its network globally. Tashkent-hubbed My Freighter, said it had been been designated as an ACC3 carrier by the UK Government in a LinkedIn post today. "MY FREIGHTER, the largest air cargo carrier in Central Asia and part of CENTRUM HOLDING, is pleased to announce the it has been designated as an ACC3 carrier by the UK Department for Transport," said the airline. "ACC3 confirms that our cargo security procedures meet UK aviation security standards. Now that we can officially operate in the United Kingdom, we see this as a huge milestone in our journey in connecting East and West. "This security designation allows us to provide our partners an opportunity to secure, compliant cargo from Tashkent to the UK. A new direct link for shippers and forwarders in Uzbekistan and the wider region is another step in growing our networking." Network expansion activities for My Freighter this year have included the addition of flights from Hong Kong to Maastricht Aachen in the Netherlands via its main hub at Tashkent International; flights between Asia and Frankfurt;and an increase in frequencies from Liege Airport. Earlier this month, My Freighter added a Boeing 767 freighter to bring more flexibility to its operations and allow for more options for imports and imports and exports through its Tashkent hub, as well as stronger connections between Asia and Europe. The airline's fleet now includes 10 767Fs, most of which are conversions, and one Boeing 757-200F, which was added in March last year.

US lifts restrictions on Mexican airlines

Mexican airlines will once again be able to add new flights to the US following the Department of Transportation's (DoT) decision to lift restrictions that had been in place since last year. The Mexican government said on Friday (16 October) that the decision means that airlines based in the country will be able to launch flights from Mexico City's Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) and Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) to the US. The ruling follows coordinated efforts between the governments of Mexico and the US and the progress made in fulfilling their bilateral aviation commitments. According to reports, Mexico has agreed to improve airlines' access to MEX. "The decision, which takes effect immediately, is a significant step forward for air connections between the two countries," said the Mexican government. "The decision reflects both governments' willingness to open a new chapter in bilateral aviation relations, based on dialogue, respect for sovereignty, institutional cooperation, international best practices, and ongoing efforts to strengthen the safety and efficiency of air transport." In July 2025, the DoT decided to place flight restrictions on Mexico-based carriers because it felt the country was not in compliance with the 2015 US-Mexico Air Transport Agreement when it required carriers to shift cargo operations from MEX to AFIA. Mexico also froze the expansion of US passenger and cargo operations from MEX. MEX slots were also removed from American, Delta, United, plus Mexican carriers Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus and Volaris in 2022 due to capacity constraints and operational limitations. The moves were made to tackle ongoing congestion at MEX. While Mexican carriers will now be able to add flights to the US, they will still be required to file schedules for flights to and from the US and obtain approval to operate services using large aircraft.