In a statement, Air France-KLM "reiterates its interest and confirms that it will participate in this process as soon as all details are released," a clear demonstration that the company maintains its strategic ambitions for the Portuguese market, even after the successive political changes that delayed the privatization process, according to a report by ECO.

IAG "welcomes the announcement of the launch of the TAP privatization process." "As we have previously stated, IAG looks forward to analysing the terms of a potential sale of TAP and will carefully evaluate all details and conditions of the process as soon as they are made available," it said.

Currently, three major European airline groups are vying for a position in TAP, including Germany's Lufthansa.

Recently, in Brussels, Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento confirmed that "Air France, Lufthansa, and IAG have expressed interest in analyzing the company and possibly making a proposal," describing this interest as "very significant" and "positive for Portugal."

Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith had previously stated that "Portugal is a great country and a strategic market for Air France-KLM," highlighting that TAP is "an iconic airline that has built a powerful hub in Lisbon, open to the world." Furthermore, the French airline's leader also stated that he has been following the privatization process "for quite some time" and asserts that he has "great ambitions in Portugal."

IAG, the parent company of British Airways, also reiterated that it "looks forward to analyzing the terms of the potential sale of TAP and will carefully analyze all the details and conditions of the process as they become available," according to Reuters.

Germany's Lufthansa, another airline potentially interested in the TAP privatization process, has not yet commented.

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