AF

British Airways’ parent company IAG said it aims to join the bidding process for a stake in Portugal’s TAP, as it contends with Air France-KLM AF 3.35%increase; green up pointing triangle and Deutsche Lufthansa LHA 2.31%increase; green up pointing triangle for a slice of the state-owned carrier with coveted routes bridging Europe and Latin America.

Lufthansa Group’s letter comes a day after Air France-KLM AF 0.02%increase; green up pointing triangle said it submitted a bid to purchase a stake in TAP.

Other carriers, including Delta, Air France-KLM AF -1.36%decrease; red down pointing triangle and Britain’s EasyJet have been pressing engine makers to approve the less-toxic lubricant or otherwise expressed interest in using it, according to documents and representatives for the companies.

“AF Searching for Lost Plane,” read one typical headline.

Air France-KLM AF -11.79%decrease; red down pointing triangle posted lower net profit for its third quarter, when costs rose.