On Tuesday, the Government approved the construction of the new airport for the Lisbon region in Alcochete, following the recommendation of the Independent Technical Commission (CTI), announced Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. The Humberto Delgado Airport will remain and undergo construction to operate with greater capacity until the new airport is operational, which should happen within a decade. 

The Prime Minister stated that the national interest demanded not only a decision on the future airport, but "the best decision", considering that the year of evaluation by the CTI "was essential".

The Government also decided to name the new airport after the poet Luís de Camões.

Explainer

• Single airport

According to the Executive, the "option for a single airport allows mitigating the environmental and social impact on the Lisbon region, since the solution of two airports doubles the negative environmental effects and the single solution is located in areas with low population density", highlighting that "Lisbon is the 2nd European capital with the most inhabitants exposed to aircraft noise".

"This choice also allows accommodating TAP's expansion plans, whose preliminary projections are 190-250 aircraft in 2050. The NAL will act as a catalyst for the economic activity of the Arco Ribeirinho Sul area, due to the intermodality between airport, railway and highway with access to Sines (developing the national logistics hub)", explains the Executive. 

• The choice of Alcochete (the reasons and the costs)

"The Government concluded that the Alcochete Shooting Range has advantages over Vendas Novas as it is located entirely on public land (Vendas Novas requires expropriations, representing an additional burden), already had an Environmental Impact Statement (currently expired), has greater proximity to the center of Lisbon (requiring less travel time and costs) and is closer to the main roads and railways (allows traffic to be removed from the center of Lisbon)", explains the Government.

According to the Executive's calculations, the total cost for two runways is 3,231 million euros (first runway) and 2,874 million euros (second runway), totaling 6,105 million euros.

The first runway should be built in 2030 and the second in 2031.

"The Government is negotiating with the Concessionaire to shorten the deadlines for ANA to apply for the new airport, as provided for in the concession contract", it explains.

• Let's go to the deadlines: "For us, a period of 10 years, 2034, will be reasonable" 

The Government estimates that Luís de Camões Airport will start operating in 2034, being less optimistic than the CTI, which pointed to 2030, said the Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz.

"2030 and 2031 we have to tell the Portuguese clearly that it is not possible. For us, a period of 10 years, 2034, will be reasonable", said the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, at a press conference.  

• And what about Humberto Delgado Airport? What happens to it?

According to the Government, the "second part of the decision is to promote the increase in capacity at AHD to reach 45 movements per hour and investments in terminals and accessibility, in accordance with ANA's concession contract".

"The AHD is in a situation of operational congestion, having been above the limits defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) since 2018. The complexity of the operations results in delays and low ratings in passenger service evaluations, with 3.5 out of 5 in the service quality questionnaire in 2023. Punctuality at departure was 52.2% in 2022", admits the Government.

He therefore considers that "it is imperative to respond to the growing demand in the short term, whose projections point to 39 million passengers in 2030".

The Government also indicates that the "project is integrated with the High-Speed ​​Rail Lines