British Airways-owner International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LSE:IAG) could examine a potential acquisition of TAP Air Portugal as the state airline is privatised.
IAG chief executive Luis Gallego said it "could be interesting" for the Anglo-Iberian giant, as part of comments made at a conference in the country.
"We want to see the conditions of TAP privatisation, we think it could be interesting for us," Gallego said, in comments reported by Reuters.
However, while the Portuguese government is poised to privatise TAP next month, it has said the state is likely to hold onto a 'strategic' stake.
Gallego said travel demand remained "very, very strong" but not so much with business fliers in Britain.