TBNPortugalPolitics
TAP. Former mayor of Beja reveals Lufthansa's contact in 2025 on pilot school
Publication: ECO
Author: Lusa
Source published: 19/10/2026, 15:54:27 UTC
Briefing created: 19/10/2026, 16:01:45 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 19/10/2026, 15:56:24 UTC.
Briefings
An ex-Beja council president revealed that Lufthansa met with the local council in June 2025 to discuss installing a new pilot school in Tancos, a location chosen over Beja despite the latter's strategic airport. The meeting was led by Maximilian Kiewel, Lufthansa's defense policy official, who presented a proposal for a military-focused school in Tancos alongside a smaller Lufthansa training facility. This decision sparked criticism from local municipalities and deputies regarding the economic impact on Beja and the Alentejo region.
Key points
- Lufthansa representatives met with the Beja council in June 2025 to propose installing a pilot school in Tancos, a location chosen over Beja despite the latter's strategic airport.
- The proposal included a 500 million euro investment for a new school in Tancos and a smaller facility for Lufthansa training, with plans to expand NATO pilot training to various countries.
Context
This revelation comes from Paulo Arsênio, former Beja council president, who stated he received a private email from Maximilian Kiewel in June 2025. The proposal was part of Lufthansa's privatization of TAP, which includes a 500 million euro investment in a new pilot school in Tancos. The decision to choose Tancos over Beja has drawn criticism from local municipalities and deputies regarding economic impact on the region.
Limitations
Evidence is limited to a single interview with Paulo Arsênio and a Facebook post. The timeline spans from June 2025 to October 2026, with specific dates for the meeting and announcement. The proposal details are based on the interviewee's recollection and may not be fully verified. The impact on Beja and the Alentejo region is inferred from the criticism received.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 19/10/2026, 16:01:45 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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