Angry passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight that diverted to a Portuguese island say they were stuck in an enclosed area of the airport for 12 hours and were told by staff not to start "a revolution."
25.08.2023 - 13:18 / skift.com
Portugal’s state holding company Parpublica has hired Ernst & Young and Portuguese bank Banco Finantia to determine the value of state-owned airline TAP ahead of its privatisation, it said on Tuesday.
TAP is currently restructuring under a Brussels-approved 3.2 billion euro ($3.49 billion) rescue plan. The government wants to launch the sale as early as this month, but intends to keep a strategic stake.
Parpublica said in a statement that “as part of the privatisation process of TAP, it hired Ernst & Young and Banco Finantia to carry out the valuations”, without disclosing further information, namely when those are likely to be completed.
At least three major global carriers – IAG, Lufthansa and Air France-KLM – have so far shown an interest in the airline, whose privatisation could be launched this month.
Infrastructure Minister Joao Galamba said last month that keeping Lisbon’s airport hub and safeguarding TAP’s strategic role for Portugal will be key conditions of the airline’s upcoming privatisation, more so than the sale price.
TAP is crucial for Portugal mainly because, through the Lisbon hub, it flies in the bulk of air travellers to the country, supporting the current tourism boom, the government has repeatedly said.
TAP’s first-quarter net loss more than halved to 57.4 million euros as passenger numbers surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
($1 = 0.9173 euros)
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Angry passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight that diverted to a Portuguese island say they were stuck in an enclosed area of the airport for 12 hours and were told by staff not to start "a revolution."
If I had to recommend one place to eat tapas in Spain, it’s Bar Poë in Granada, not only for the food, but for the atmosphere. It’s always bustling (come early to guarantee a seat) with a local and international crowd. Run by a friendly husband-and-wife duo, every drink comes with a free dish, and, unusually, you can choose your tapa. International and big on flavour, the menu includes Portuguese piri piri dishes, salt cod, curries and more. Jason Rich
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To give civilisation the slip, head north to Serra da Estrela Natural Park, where the country’s tallest mountains punch above valleys that echo with goat and sheep bells. At Senses on the banks of the Mondego River, you can camp under the fruit trees or glamp in a bell tent, safari lodge or yurt. Wild swim in the river with the otters and hike into granite heights, returning to eat at the farm-to-fork restaurant. By night the Milky Way shimmers in some of the country’s darkest skies. Pitches from €15 (£13), tents from €45 (£39), B&B.
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Straddling the mouth of the Douro River with elegant bridges and painted houses tripping up gentle hillsides, Porto has soared in popularity with travellers in recent years. Many come to sip and slurp at the city’s historic port wine houses, climb the narrow streets lined with baroque churches and 19th-century merchants’ houses, and bounce between cafe terraces in the labyrinthine Ribeira district. But equally appealing is the call of the outdoors – Porto’s riverside views and coastal position encourage all manner of active pursuits, from paddleboarding and kayaking to bridge climbing and e-biking. Here’s the perfect itinerary for an active weekend break.
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Flights operated on Wednesdays and Sundays. Operation starts on June 2, 2024
Spain’s national rail operator has recently launched new routes connecting to major cities in France.
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