British Airways-owner IAG is likely to be a frontrunner to buy a stake in Portuguese carrier TAP, valued at about $1b, bankers and analysts said, marking the next phase in consolidation of the European market. Aviation executives highlighted at the Airline Economics finance conference in Dublin last week the need for consolidation in the industry as it battles high costs and a price-conscious consumer base. They said it would also help carriers compete more effectively with U.S., Gulf and Asian rivals. Europe's major airline executives are hoping the Portuguese government will start formal talks soon on the sale of either a minority or majority stake in its national carrier. A spokesperson at Portugal's infrastructure ministry, which is overseeing the sale, said: "The government is still listening, assessing market interest... but the sale will take place this year." Data from airline industry analyst Cirium presented in Dublin showed that 36 European airlines account for 80% of the continent's capacity, compared with six airlines in the United States. The region's big carriers IAG, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa have expressed interest in the possible purchase of TAP, hoping to access the lucrative South American market and build a new hub for Southern Europe. A banker with knowledge of the deal said that IAG, which owns Iberia and Aer Lingus, was the most keen and likely the strongest candidate to strike a deal with TAP, with analysts pointing to its success with Iberia in Madrid as a good starting point for a Southern European multihub base.<br/>
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Lufthansa Airlines aims to be profitable again but still has a ways to go despite the initial success of its restructuring plan, CEO Jens Ritter told journalists on Wednesday evening. Lufthansa wants to be the leading premium airline in Europe "and of course be profitable again", Ritter said. "Despite many positive developments in recent months, we are not there yet," he added. The main Lufthansa brand is currently the Lufthansa Group's problem child. A restructuring programme is intended to improve earnings by two-thirds through cost reductions and one third through increased sales. The airline has defined more than 600 measures in all company divisions to bring it back onto the path to profitability.<br/>
Lufthansa will be flying to Denver, Colorado for the first time with the world's largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, making Denver the sixth destination for the aircraft. The first flight is scheduled for April 30, 2025. There will be a daily flight from Munich to Denver International Airport located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The Airbus A380 service to Denver is not only a first for Lufthansa but also for the airport itself. It is the first time a regular flight with an aircraft of this size will land there. Passengers, airport visitors, and crew love the A380 for its spaciousness and the flying experience it offers. Additionally, the A380 has more premium seats than any other aircraft, according to Heiko Reitz, CCO of Lufthansa Airlines. Lufthansa will have a total of eight Airbus A380 aircraft, each with 509 seats, based in their Munich hub this summer. The destinations include New York (JFK), Boston, Washington, Los Angeles, Delhi and Denver. The A380 offers eight first-class seats, 78 business-, 52 premium economy- and 371 economy-class seats.<br/>
Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria resumed Thursday after 13 years with a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Damascus. Turkish media showed Syrian families draped in their national flag singing pro-opposition songs and cheering as they prepared to board flight TK0846 to Damascus. Passengers continued their celebrations inside the plane, singing the uprising anthem “Hold your head up high, you are a free Syrian.” The first international commercial flight since Assad’s fall, a Royal Jordanian Airlines plane, landed in Damascus earlier this month. Turkey, a key ally of Syria’s new authorities, has expressed its intention to invest in its economy and help its ailing electricity and energy sectors. Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi announced earlier this month that the airline would fly three times a week between Istanbul and Damascus. The move followed a visit to Ankara by Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, who met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other officials.<br/>