"We expect this year to be better than the last one. We are not sure of the final figures, but we expect them to be positive", Fernando Pinto told reporters in Lisbon today.

The chairman said that the last months had seen “very strong growth” but “it is always difficult [to anticipate], because December is always a doubt".

"We are carrying more passengers, with more competitive fares, but the earnings have gone up", he said.

TAP ended 2015 with a loss of €99 million, compared with a loss of €46 million the year before, impacted by €91.4 million retained in Venezuela.