Portugal’s flagship air carrier TAP looks set to be grounded for ten days from now because of a strike by pilots.<br /><br /> Last-minute talks between the pilots and management yesterday afternoon failed to produce results.<br /><br /> A privatisation process is due to start next month.<br /><br /> The pilots say the government reneged on a deal from 1999 under which they would receive a stake should the airline be privatised.<br /><br /> Earlier, the deputy prime minister made an impassioned appeal.<br /><br /> “Think about the country, think about tourism, think about your company. TAP is important, don’t contribute to its destruction,” Paulo Portas said. “Don’t carry out a 10-day strike in one month, that would ruin the coffers of any company.”<br /><br /> Public sector strikes in Portugal have been frequent but they have rarely been longer than one day at a time.<br /><br /> The government estimates the stoppage – which is set to come at the start of the busy tourist season – will affect 300,000 passengers and 70 million euros, ruining the airline a
