EU Extends Divestment Condition Deadlines for SATA, TAP Air Portugal

07:20 AM EST, 01/05/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The European Commission moved the deadline by which SATA and TAP Air Portugal must complete the divestment of certain assets, which are conditions for its approval of Portugal's restructuring aid for the airline companies. SATA must now divest its 51% stake in Azores Airlines, as well as conclude the carve-out and disposal of its ground handling business unit by Dec. 31, while TAP has until June 30 to sell its SPdH and Cateringpor shareholdings, according to a Monday release. The commission added that the Portuguese government, which granted the SATA and TAP schemes in June 2022 and December 2021, respectively, offered to reduce the subsidies and extend competition measures until the transactions are completed.