LISBON, March 21 Reuters Portuguese airline TAP swung to a profit in 2022, earlier than expected in its restructuring plan, as rising revenue and lower staff costs offset soaring fuel prices, the stateowned company said on Tuesday.

TAP said it made a net profit of 65.6 million euros 70.4 million in 2022 compared with a net loss of 1.6 billion euros a year earlier, when it was feeling the effects of the pandemic.

In 2022, TAP flew 13.8 million passengers, up from 5.8 million a year earlier and about 81 of prepandemic levels.

The airline is currently restructuring under a Brusselsapproved 3.2billion euro rescue plan which includes downsizing its fleet, cutting thousands of jobs and reducing the wages of most workers. Under the plan, TAP aimed to achieve positive operating results in 2023 and a net annual profit in 2025.

TAP39;s operating revenue jumped to 3.5 billion euros in 2022 from 1.39 billion euros a year earlier. Recurring earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation EBITDA of 777.7 million euros compared with a negative 999 million euros in 2021.

During the first full year of the restructuring plan, TAP generated an operating profit that is an alltime record for the company, outgoing Chief Executive Officer Christine OurmieresWidener said in a statement.

The company managed to be profitable even though fuel costs more than tripled in 2022 from the previous year to 1 billion euros.

The government has said it was considering an outright or…