The President of the Executive Committee (CEO) of TAP said in Parliament on Tuesday that the only criterion for increasing the offer of routes at Porto Airport is that the solutions found are “profitable”. “Do not think that we are dishonest” in relation to the north and other regions of the country, urged Christine Urmier-Widener. TAP should start returning the money invested by the state in 2025.

“We immediately open any route that can earn money,” said the head of the airline, heard in the Commission on Economics, Improvement, Planning and Housing Construction. “There are no hidden agendas” in this regard, he added, agreeing that TAP has an obligation to serve all regions in the best possible way.

Christine Urmier-Widener has repeatedly stated that she will not comment on issues that have a “political” connotation. However, when asked by Deputy Carlos Guimarães Pinto of Illinois, he said that as CEO of TAP, he “always wants to do more and better” with regard to route offers from airports like Porto or Funchal.

“We are trying to do everything possible, given the limitations we have,” said Urmier-Widener. “TAP is on track to be efficient and sustainable, but we can’t go cheap. This is not our model,” said the president of the TAP executive committee.

The manager recalled that the company currently operates 10 direct routes and 17 weekly flights from Porto. Regarding Funchal, he stressed that the number of flights is increasing as Madeira is a “very important summer destination”.

PSD’s deputy Jorge Mendez said that of the 260 scheduled arrivals and departures at Francisco Sa Carneiro airport on Tuesday, “only 46” (less than 20%) are TAP-operated flights. “I don’t see arrivals or departures to Brazil, the US or South Africa,” he said, referring to countries with strong Portuguese communities.

Christine Urmier-Widener assured that there were direct flights from Porto to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and New York on that day. He pledged to “increase the frequency” of Invicta’s flights to Rio “in the near future”, stressing that Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport is “very important not only for Porto and the Nordic region, but for the entire country.”

Start returning money to the state in 2025

The head of the airline also assured in response to Carlos Guimarães Pinto that it intends “as soon as possible” to return to the state the money it has invested in TAP, in line with what has already been done by other foreign companies in the sector. does. However, he did not agree to a date.

At a subsequent hearing, TAP Chairman Manuel Beja said that the company plans to start paying dividends to the state – the sole shareholder – in three years: “The forecast is that in 2025 we will start paying dividends as soon as we start to have a positive net result,” – he said.The company’s support is 3,200 million euros.

Urmier-Widener assured that TAP’s sustainability and survival was “absolutely possible”, saying he was “cautiously optimistic” in the face of future challenges. However, he warned that “higher fuel costs and a stronger dollar are obstacles that make it difficult” to complete the restructuring plan.

TAP CEO mentioned that estimated fuel costs near 300 million euros above than previously forecast and 200 million more than in 2019. He also ensured that “no collective layoffs are planned,” also acknowledging that while the company has “some gaps” in terms of staff, it is “better equipped today than in the past to find talent.”

Left criticizes TAP for not listening to workers

Deputy Jose Carlos Barbosa, from PS, criticized the right – and especially the IL – for wanting to “liquidate” the TAR. The socialist stressed that the restructuring plan already guarantees “the preservation of 6,800 jobs” as well as the preservation of “hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs” in the companies that serve the company.

Antonio Topa Gomes, from PSD – the party that, together with the PS, asked for an audience with Urmier-Widener, stressed that the “main reason” to prevent the fall of TAP is the Portuguese diaspora. According to the Social Democrat parliamentarian, the “perception” of most Portuguese communities abroad is that the company “does not serve them”.

Andre Ventura, from He arrives, considered that TAP had a “duty” to “ensure the safety of routes to the north and the islands”, which the company’s CEO agreed. The MP also deplored the 25% pay cut for crew members, also saying that the restructuring plan involved a “very significant” cut in the “slots” available to TAP.

In addition to asking Urmier-Widener about the problem with Porto and when TAP will return the money to the state, Guimarães Pinto from Illinois, questioned the role played by the company. According to the MP, this is not suitable for all regions, and in Lisbon, the “slots” currently in the hands of TAP can easily be attributed to other companies that have attracted more people.

Paula Santos, from PCP, wanted to know why the unions were “not hearing” about the restructuring plan, stressing that it was the workers who were “paying the bills”. Kommunist also stressed that out of 11 airlines restructured under plans drawn up by the European Commission (EC), “only one has survived,” arguing that Portugal should not “insist on the path of destruction.”

Mariana Mortagua from TO BE, cited that the “fundamental political issue” around TAP is that the EC, which the MP called a “technocratic” organization, has the legal right to decide how big a national airline should be. Blokist also mentioned that TAP workers “do not know the restructuring plan.”

TAP’s CEO, who described herself as “very pragmatic” during the hearing, said she understands workers’ demands for pay cuts. However, he cautioned, “It’s not because we’re flying at 90%.” [dos números] 2019 that we are in a good financial position,” he said, noting that the company “has not recovered yet.”