Lufthansa Group could transfer up to eight Airbus A350-900 widebody aircraft to TAP Air Portugal after 2030, according to details of the industrial plan presented by the German company as part of its successful bid for a stake in the Portuguese flag carrier.
The potential transfer was disclosed by the Portuguese government on Wednesday, October 14, following its decision to select Lufthansa over Air France-KLM in the privatization process.
The government approved the sale of a 44.9% stake in TAP to Lufthansa, with another 5% reserved for employees. The transaction could generate up to €1.2 billion (approximately US$1.4 billion) for Portugal.
The proposal includes expanding TAP's fleet to 117 aircraft by 2035 and approximately 130 aircraft beyond that date, supported by investments estimated at €3 billion to €4 billion (approximately US$3.5 billion to US$4.7 billion).
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The government specifically mentioned the possibility of transferring up to eight A350-900s after 2030, although it did not identify the aircraft involved or clarify whether they would come from Lufthansa's existing fleet or future deliveries.
The German group already operates a substantial fleet of A350-900s and placed an additional order for 10 aircraft in May 2026, bringing its total A350 Family commitments to 75 aircraft, including 15 A350-1000s.
Lufthansa Group centrally manages aircraft orders and allocates new deliveries among its airlines according to their requirements.
TAP fleet expansion
The proposed A350 transfer is part of a broader industrial plan that includes preserving TAP's brand and Lisbon hub, expanding operations in Porto and strengthening the airline's maintenance activities.
Lufthansa also plans to integrate TAP into its A++ transatlantic joint venture with United Airlines and Air Canada, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
The Portuguese government said the proposal includes additional investments in aviation infrastructure and maintenance, including a Lufthansa Technik facility in Santa Maria da Feira.
The transaction has not yet been completed and remains subject to contractual and regulatory procedures.
What could the A350 bring to TAP?
The A350-900 would become the largest aircraft type in TAP's fleet, currently led by the Airbus A330-900.
However, the difference in passenger capacity would not necessarily be substantial. TAP operates its A330-900s with 298 seats, compared with 293 seats in one of Lufthansa's A350-900 configurations. The final capacity would depend on the cabin layout selected for TAP.
The more significant difference is range. The A350-900 can fly approximately 15,000 km, compared with the 12,000 km advertised by TAP for its A330-900.
TAP currently concentrates its long-haul operations on Brazil, North America and Africa. The airline also uses the smaller A321LR on selected transatlantic services, particularly routes to the eastern United States and northern Brazil.
The introduction of the A350 could give TAP greater flexibility to consider destinations beyond its traditional network, potentially including the US West Coast or Asian markets.
Such expansion would depend on commercial demand, connecting traffic through Lisbon and the airline's future role within Lufthansa Group. No specific A350 routes have been announced.
The potential addition would also introduce another widebody type into TAP's fleet. Lufthansa has no outstanding orders for the A330-900, although the model is already operated by ITA Airways, another airline within the German group.
