TAP flags ex-CEO’s €5.9m claim for alleged unlawful dismissal as a contingency

TAP said in its 2025 annual report that it has recognised a contingency linked to a lawsuit brought by former chief executive Christine Ourmières-Widener, who is seeking €5.9 million over what she says was an unlawful dismissal in 2023. The disclosure matters because it shows a legal risk still hanging over Portugal’s state-owned airline, even though the company says it does not expect to lose the case.

The airline said its civil contingencies totalled €34.07 million at the end of 2025, with part of that amount related to the claim by the former CEO. The report does not break out the exact figure, but says civil contingencies mainly include customer cases related to operational irregularities and a lawsuit filed by TAP S.A.’s former director Christine Ourmières-Widener over the termination of her duties.

TAP said it has not booked a provision for this case or others because it does not expect an unfavourable outcome. Including tax contingencies of €116,000 and cases brought by national regulators worth €6.43 million, the airline’s total recognised contingencies stood at €40.6 million at the end of 2025.

Ourmières-Widener’s lawsuit challenges her dismissal for cause, announced on March 6, 2023 by then finance minister Fernando Medina and then infrastructure minister João Galamba. The decision followed an opinion by the Inspectorate-General of Finance that found illegal the €500,000 gross payment made to board member Alexandra Reis when she left TAP’s management.

TAP had argued that the civil court chosen by the former CEO’s legal team did not have jurisdiction and that the case should be heard by an administrative court. In February, however, the Lisbon Court of Appeal rejected the airline’s appeal. There is still no ruling on the main claim.

Originally published at Eco.pt