Ryanair Urges Portugal PM To Release TAP Slots

Ryanair CEO calls to expedite the release of unused slots at Lisbon International Airport in time for the summer season. The CEO of Europe's largest airline threatened to pull 20 routes from Lisbon unless the Portuguese Prime Minister steps in to free up the unused slots in time for summer. Portuguese flag carrier TAP Air Portugal recently surrendered the slots for aid. However, the successful purchaser will only be able to use them until the 2022 winter season.

Tenders open for TAP's slots at Lisbon, Portugal

“The slot package shall allow another carrier to establish a new base or expand an existing base at Lisbon Airport.” The German advisory firm Alcis Advisers, which was appointed The European Commission, said in the public tendering notice. A decision on the allocation of the slots is currently scheduled for June 2022. However, the timeframe is being criticized by Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary, who wrote to the Portuguese Prime Minister last month.

In a letter dated February 16th, O'Leary called on Prime Minister António Costa to release TAP's unused slots by March 4th, citing the carrier's significant investment in Lisbon and the Portuguese economy. The low-cost carrier has invested heavily in Portugal, launching a new shuttle service to Madeira and basing three additional planes at Lisbon airport. Ryanair recently announced its biggest ever schedule for Summer 2022 to and from Portugal but threatened to reduce service if the slots were not made available by summer. Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary warns the relocation of the aircraft from Lisbon for the summer would result in the loss of 150 jobs and up to one million passengers.

“As one of Portugal's biggest investors and job creators, we appeal to the new Portuguese government to support the recovery of traffic and oblige TAP to release unused slots in Lisbon (which it does not need) before the end of February. This unfair blocking of slots by TAP, subsidized by the State, prevents the growth and recovery of traffic, tourism, and employment at Lisbon Portela Airport, to the detriment of the Portuguese economy, with a potential loss of 250 million euros in revenue of tourism only in the summer of 2022." O'Leary stated last month. "We call on Prime Minister António Costa to act quickly, before the end of February, and we demand that TAP, as a condition of its EUR 3 billion state aid, release these unused slots, so that Ryanair can safeguard three aircraft in Lisbon and the 20 routes they operate to support the recovery of post-Covid traffic and tourism in Lisbon”. The latest schedules filed with OAG show that TAP intends to serve 91 destinations from Lisbon during summer 2022, compared with 93 during summer 2019. However, its capacity will be about 9% down on pre-pandemic levels.

This summer, the Portuguese flag carrier will remain Lisbon’s largest operator with a 48% share of all departure seats, followed by Ryanair with a 14% share, and easyJet with just over 8%.