After a rocky few years, British Airways parent IAG is once again plotting its bid for global expansion. With pandemic woes largely behind it, International Airlines Group (IAG) is aiming to tighten its grip on transatlantic travel with a bid for TAP Air Portugal – a deal that would boost access to Brazil’s market of 215 million people. Bosses at IAG view TAP as the final element in a push to extend its lead over European rivals on routes to North and South America. As a result, they are mulling participation in an upcoming auction after Portugal’s government put the flagship carrier back up for sale. Luis Gallego, IAG’s chief executive, said in March that he’d need to “see the conditions” attached to the sale before deciding on a bid, but admitted TAP presents an “opportunity” for the business. European airline consolidation is at a critical juncture, with IAG also seeking to acquire Air Europa of Spain, Deutsche Lufthansa bidding for Alitalia successor ITA, and Air France-KLM pursuing Scandinavian Airlines. Should the deals all clear regulatory hurdles and TAP also find a buyer, Finnair would be the only major flag carrier to sit outside the continent’s three consolidated airline groups....