Originally Posted by
Dan72
I think the Potuguese government believe that more TP jobs will be protected by a LH takeover rather than a IAG one. Their fears (possibly justifiably) will be that IB will wish to route passengers to marginal destinations through their MAD hub and will cut back TP service. TP and IB share a focus on Latin America, and joining LH may be seen as a better way to protect TP's network and jobs.
certainly they know that there are much more possibilities that LH will be allowed to gobble another airline without anyone in EU raising objections, contrary to what will happen should IAG be involved. However it remains to be demonstrated how TAP will be integrated into a monolithic monopoly, and what will be the costs involved on that.
If I were LH I would try to bid for TAP and make it as expensive as possible for IAG to then finally get the airline.
IAG should do exactly the same, and instead concentrate on the biggest prize on the continent, LATAM.