According to newspapers Expresso and Correio da Manhã, an investigation was launched following an anonymous tip-off, which was later confirmed by PJ police.
Correio da Manhã reported the flag-carrier’s department for personnel rotas and planning was under scrutiny and revealed a search was conducted at the airline’s headquarters last Tuesday in which documents and equipment were seized.
The newspaper claimed, at the heart of the matter, were suspicions of corruption in the way rotas are distributed among pilots and cabin crew.
It said the investigation stems from an anonymous tip-off reporting an “elaborate scheme within the airline, involving overtime, which is paid at very high rates, always being distributed to the same people in exchange for backhanders”.
Correio da Manhã later said no formal suspects had been made in the case, while a company spokesperson told Expresso an investigation was ongoing “under the Secret of Justice”.
The TAP spokesperson added the airline had “collaborated, and will continue to collaborate in full, to supply the elements required” and had also activated it own “internal methods to ascertain clarifications.”