Portugal picks Lufthansa to buy 44.9% of TAP, sources say

LISBON, Oct 14 (Reuters) — Portugal's government has chosen Lufthansa to acquire a 44.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal, making the German airline the strategic partner of one of Europe's last independent flag carriers, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. Lufthansa beat rival Air France-KLM after both airlines submitted improved final bids for TAP in late September. The government will announce the terms of the deal in a news briefing later on Wednesday. (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Joanna Plucinska; editing by Andrei Khalip) ((mailto:sergio.goncalves@thomsonreuters.com; +351213509204; Reuters Messaging: rm://sergio.goncalves.reuters.com@reuters.net/)