A government crisis and a snap parliamentary election called for next spring have put on hold plans for the government to sell majority control of the airline TAP Portugal and to move ahead on plans for a new Lisbon airport.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on November 7th over corruption allegations, barely a month after official approval of the decision to sell 51% of TAP. A request for bids was planned for early next month, but will now not move forward until after March elections. Bids are expected from all three of the European major airline groups, Lufthansa, AirFrance/KLM and International Airlines Group.
Similarly, the wait for a new government has put on hold the long-delayed decision on a location for a new Lisbon airport, and whether it should replace the existing airport or operate as a second field. A technical committee report is due to make recommendations on the expanding range of choices, but that report will also not be acted on until after the elections.
