The European Commission today awarded TAP's 18 daily slots at Lisbon airport to the airline EasyJet, after imposing to approve the restructuring plan, which came in first place overtaking the bidder, Ryanair.

"The European Commission has ranked EasyJet first among the airlines that applied for the allocation of a portfolio of up to 18 daily take-off and landing slots at Lisbon airport," the EU executive announced in a statement.

The institution adds that "the slots will be made available by TAP Air Portugal to mitigate any undue distortions of competition created by the restructuring aid granted to it by Portugal, following authorization by the Commission in December 2021," thus allowing EasyJet "to start operating new routes from 30 October 2022."

The other airline that competed for TAP's slots was the low-cost Ryanair, which told Lusa on Monday that it was the "most reliable" candidate compared to EasyJet.

Brussels took a different view, stating in a press release that it "analyzed in detail the bids received according to the eligibility, evaluation and ranking criteria", taking into account the "seat capacity that the carriers could offer using the slots made available by TAP Air Portugal", and thus opted to give EasyJet first place.

"EasyJet now has priority to conclude with TAP Air Portugal the slot transfer agreement that will allow it to expand its operations at Lisbon airport and offer new flights as of October 30, 2022," the European Commission adds.

At issue is the endorsement given by the European Commission last December 21 to TAP's restructuring plan and the state aid of 2.55 billion euros to allow the group to return to viability, imposing commitments so as not to harm European competition.

Among the remedies imposed by Brussels to approve the restructuring plan is, precisely, the obligation of the airline to make available up to 18 'slots' per day at Lisbon airport. (Lusa)