Questioned by the Lusa news agency about the Government's announcement to approve the construction of the new Lisbon region airport (NAL) at the Alcochete Firing Range, the mayor of Beja defended that this decision is an opportunity for works on the Alentejo airport infrastructure. "If, in the coming years, the Government and Vinci [owner of ANA -- Aeroportos de Portugal] proceed to expand the parking apron and the terminal, Beja Airport can receive many more passenger flights," he defended. And this increase in the number of passenger flights, if the expansion works exist, would be valid for "the coming years and even [for] after the airport in Alcochete is built," the mayor stressed. According to the elected official, "Beja Airport has an imminently industrial and commercial vocation, but it can also serve some civilian flights" and support the current Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon. However, he stressed, the infrastructure's parking apron "is relatively small" and "has 'VIP/premium' flights permanently parked, as well as aircraft that will enter the repair hangar of [aircraft maintenance company] MESA". In addition, the terminal "has a processing capacity of only 250 passengers per hour of entry and 250 passengers of exit". That is, currently, with Beja Airport "operating at its maximum capacity", there is only the possibility of "only one plane taking off and another landing, per hour", he noted. For Paulo Arsénio, "it would be important for the concessionaire", ANA, "to expand the parking apron and for the terminal to also be expanded". Regarding the location of the future airport, the mayor of Beja stressed that he had "no comment" to make, especially since the option fell on the conclusion of the Independent Technical Commission (CTI). The Government "chose Alcochete and legitimately did so. Probably, it would be what any other government of the Republic of any other party would do, based on the in-depth study of all locations [that was carried out] to accommodate the alternative to the main airport in Lisbon," he said. On Tuesday, the prime minister, the social democrat Luís Montenegro, announced the approval of the construction of the NAL at the Alcochete Firing Range, with the name Aeroporto Luís de Camões, with a view to completely replacing Humberto Delgado Airport. The Air Force Firing Range, also known as the Alcochete Firing Range (due to the proximity of this urban centre), is mostly located in the parish of Samora Correia, in the municipality of Benavente (district of Santarém), and also has a small part in the parish of Canha, in the municipality of Montijo (district of Setúbal). Read Also: PCP says that the need for Beja Airport is "even more evident" (Portuguese version)