"The dynamic to the negotiations has been positive in the sense that there was openness shown by the candidates over improving technical and even financial aspects to their proposal but we have to await 5pm Friday for their submission," said Monteiro in attendance at the Infraestruturas de Portugal inauguration ceremony.


The improved binding proposals from the two consortiums headed by German Efromovich and David Neeleman respectively will result in the attribution of 66% of the TAP group with the state secretary clearly on the positives.


"Would you let me make it clear that the expectations of the state is that these proposals have the scope for improvement” said Monteiro before adding that he had been in some of the negotiation sessions ongoing since last Wednesday.


Efromovich, owner of the Avianca airliner and the Synergy group threw in 12 new Airbus planes and the renovation of the Portugália fleet with Embraer planes through to 2016 in addition to €250 million to recapitalise the company in his bid.


In turn, the proposal by David Neeleman, head of the Brazilian airline Azul and in partnership with Humberto Pedrosa, owner of the Barraqueiro transport group, includes 53 new planes and investment amounting to €350 million.