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Aviation Week • Helen Massy-Beresford

EU extends deadlines for TAP and SATA divestments, including 51% Azores Airlines sale

The European Commission has extended deadlines for TAP Air Portugal and SATA Group to complete divestments required as conditions of pandemic-era state aid. The move extends the timeframe for SATA to sell a 51% stake in Azores Airlines and for TAP to divest specified non‑core businesses.

2026-01-06T06:02:40.415274-08:00

FlightGlobal

Air China sells 1.61% stake in Cathay Pacific for HK$1.32bn, trimming holding to ~27.11%

2026-01-05T20:02:41.752941-08:00

aerotelegraph.com

Portugal asks Air France‑KLM, IAG and Lufthansa to submit binding bids for TAP privatisation

2026-01-05T01:21:05.047558-08:00

FlightGlobal

Senior sells aerostructures unit to Sullivan Street Partners for £200m

2026-01-05T03:08:41.528206-08:00

News Timeline

Aviation Week

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EU extends deadlines for TAP and SATA divestments, including 51% Azores Airlines sale The European Commission has extended deadlines for TAP Air Portugal and SATA Group to complete divestments required as conditions of pandemic-era state aid. The move extends the timeframe for SATA to sell a 51% stake in Azores Airlines and for TAP to divest specified non‑core businesses.

2026-01-06T06:02:40.415274-08:00

EU extends deadlines for TAP and SATA divestments, including 51% Azores Airlines sale

FlightGlobal

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Air China sells 1.61% stake in Cathay Pacific for HK$1.32bn, trimming holding to ~27.11% Air China has sold 108.1 million Cathay Pacific shares—about 1.61%—for HK$1.32 billion (~US$170m), reducing its holding to roughly 27.11%. The carrier said its support for Cathay "remains unchanged" and Cathay expects the stake to rise to about 29.98% after a planned repurchase.

2026-01-05T20:02:41.752941-08:00

Air China sells 1.61% stake in Cathay Pacific for HK$1.32bn, trimming holding to ~27.11%

Aviation Week

GD Helicopter Finance to become rotorcraft operator with takeover of NHV Group GD Helicopter Finance (GDHF), historically a helicopter lessor, plans to become an operator by acquiring Belgium-based offshore helicopter company NHV Group. The takeover moves GDHF from asset-owner toward operating rotorcraft and expands its footprint in the offshore transport market.

2026-01-05T08:11:24.441467-08:00

GD Helicopter Finance to become rotorcraft operator with takeover of NHV Group

AeroTime

Rheinmetall and MBDA to form German high‑energy laser joint venture Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland will create a German limited‑liability joint venture in Q1 2026 to commercialise high‑energy laser weapons, formalising a cooperation that began in 2019 and has already produced a shipborne demonstrator tested at sea. It will focus on moving demonstrators into operational naval and land air‑defence systems.

2026-01-05T05:45:12.761767-08:00

Rheinmetall and MBDA to form German high‑energy laser joint venture

FlightGlobal

Senior sells aerostructures unit to Sullivan Street Partners for £200m UK-listed engineering group Senior has completed the sale of its aerostructures business to investment firm Sullivan Street Partners for £200 million ($269 million). The divestment removes Senior from large-structure manufacturing and hands the aerostructures unit to a private-equity buyer, reshaping its aerospace supply-chain footprint.

2026-01-05T03:08:41.528206-08:00

Senior sells aerostructures unit to Sullivan Street Partners for £200m

FlightGlobal

ProMedia Group acquires FlightGlobal, Railway Gazette and DVV Media transport, aviation and HR portfolios Dutch professional publisher ProMedia Group has acquired the aviation, transport and HR portfolios of UK-based DVV Media International, including FlightGlobal, Railway Gazette and HeavyLift. The deal expands ProMedia’s international footprint and signals a push to further digitalise and integrate these specialist trade brands.

2026-01-05T02:24:13.850893-08:00

ProMedia Group acquires FlightGlobal, Railway Gazette and DVV Media transport, aviation and HR portfolios

aerotelegraph.com

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Portugal asks Air France‑KLM, IAG and Lufthansa to submit binding bids for TAP privatisation Portugal has advanced TAP Air Portugal’s privatisation, asking the three shortlisted bidders — Air France‑KLM, IAG and Lufthansa Group — to submit concrete offers. The government requires firms to specify price, plans for developing TAP and proposals for sharing future financial upside with the state.

2026-01-05T01:21:05.047558-08:00

Portugal asks Air France‑KLM, IAG and Lufthansa to submit binding bids for TAP privatisation

ch-aviation

PIA to restart Islamabad–London nonstop on March 29, 2026 as government urged to approve carrier sale Pakistan International Airlines will resume direct Islamabad–London flights on March 29, 2026, the carrier announced, while officials press the government to approve a planned sale of the national airline. The relaunch follows PIA’s recent return to UK services and sits within a wider privatisation push.

2026-01-04T22:33:52.522911-08:00

PIA to restart Islamabad–London nonstop on March 29, 2026 as government urged to approve carrier sale

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M&A News

EU extends deadlines for TAP and SATA divestments, including 51% Azores Airlines sale

Air China sells 1.61% stake in Cathay Pacific for HK$1.32bn, trimming holding to ~27.11%

Portugal asks Air France‑KLM, IAG and Lufthansa to submit binding bids for TAP privatisation

Senior sells aerostructures unit to Sullivan Street Partners for £200m

News Timeline