Lufthansa Group and Portuguese Government Sign Agreement for Acquisition of a Minority Stake in TAP
The Lufthansa Group and the Portuguese government signed on November 3rd the agreement for the acquisition of an initial minority stake of 44.9 percent in TAP Air Portugal at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon. This marks a decisive milestone in the privatization process of TAP. Completion of the acquisition remains subject to approval by the relevant authorities, particularly the European Commission.
The agreed purchase price for the initial 44.9 percent stake is 1.025 billion euros. The
investment will be financed entirely from available liquidity. Through the possible
acquisition of shares initially offered to employees; the stake could increase to up to
49.9 percent. Considering a so-called ticking fee, the total purchase price could rise to up to 1.2 billion euros.
Bell Delivers the 2,000th Bell 407
Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, announced on November 5th, the delivery of the 2,000th Bell 407 to White Saddle Air Services a family-owned and operated helicopter company based at Bluff Lake in British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin region. The milestone marks a significant accomplishment for a platform that has supported operators around the world for nearly three decades across commercial, utility, corporate, and versatile mission operations. Since entering service in the 1990s, the Bell 407 has earned a global reputation as a proven and versatile light single-engine, multi-mission helicopter. Its combination of performance, reliability, cabin comfort, visibility and operational flexibility has made it a trusted platform for customers operating in a wide range of environments and applications.
A milestone has been reached for the Swiss Federal Diploma for Aircraft Technicians
In mid-2024, a package of measures to strengthen federal vocational training was submitted for consultation. In mid-2026, the Federal Council decided that the amendments would come into force on 1 October 2026. Anyone who completes the vocational examination for aircraft technicians in mechanics or avionics with SAMA has been entitled to use the title suffix "Professional Bachelor" since 1 October 2026. A graduate will therefore, for example, receive the title: "Aircraft Maintenance Technician – Mechanics, Professional Bachelor" or "Aircraft Maintenance Technician – Avionics, Professional Bachelor".
The title suffixes may also be used for earlier qualifications, obtained before 1 October 2026, regardless of the year of graduation. However, the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) does not issue new diplomas; an official accompanying document confirms the right to use the suffix. The accompanying document and all further information can be found on the SERI website. You can also find the amended Vocational Training Act, under which our vocational examinations for a Federal Diploma are held once a year, on this website:
People: Patrick Fetzer appointed new CEO of RUAG
Patrick Fetzer has been appointed the new CEO of RUAG, effective January 1, 2027. He draws on over 30 years of international experience in the industry as well as many years of leadership experience in the energy and technology sector. Patrick Fetzer will take over the CEO position from Oliver Müller, who had assumed this role on an interim basis in March 2026. Following an orderly transition period, Oliver Müller will leave RUAG at his own request and take on a new challenge in the private sector.
Patrick Fetzer currently serves as a Global Transformation Executive at Swisslog. From 2020 to 2025, he acted as President and Group CEO of Castolin Eutectic, a world-leading provider of innovative material, welding, soldering and coating technologies. Patrick Fetzer previously held leadership positions at ABB Power Generation, Alstom Power and General Electric for over 25 years. In these roles, he lived in the US, France, Germany and Asia, among other places, operating globally. Patrick Fetzer studied industrial management and manufacturing at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, later earning an MBA from the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the American College of William & Mary. In the Swiss Armed Forces, he held the rank of captain. Patrick Fetzer, born 1968, is married, has two adult daughters and lives in the Zurich region.
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