Lisbon Luís de Camões Airport

A conversion of the Montijo Air Force base in the Lisbon metropolitan region for use as a commercial aviation facility has been suggested for many years. It would probably be a secondary level facility in support of the existing capacity-constrained Portela Airport. Montijo Air Base is located in the Montijo Municipality of the Lisbon metropolitan area of Portugal, approximately 11km southeast of Lisbon Portela Airport. The base currently supports air elements of the Portuguese Navy. ANA Aeroportos de Portugal is working toward converting Montijo Air Base for commercial use to complement services at Lisbon Airport. The proposed facility, labelled 'Portela+1' ,will serve as an extension to the existing Portela Airport. The government is also considering the construction of a new airport to serve Lisbon. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport expansion MoU was signed on 15-Feb-2017 between ANA Airports of Portugal and the Portugal Government. Portugal and ANA Airports of Portugal reached an agreement regarding the expansion of Lisbon's airport infrastructure, including the conversion of Lisbon Montijo Air Base under a concession period.

Jun-2024. Portugal's Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz stated the Lisbon Luís de Camões Airport is expected to become operational in 2034. Construction of the first runway requires an investment of EUR3.2 billion, with completion scheduled in 2030. Construction of the second runway requires an investment of EUR2.9 billion and is scheduled for completion in 2031. 

May-2024. Portugal's Council of Ministers announced New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport will be constructed at Campo de Tiro de Alcochete. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport will cease operations when the new airport is completed. The Portuguese Government decided to temporarily increase Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport's capacity to 45 movements per hour in response to growing demand, with the airport forecasting 39 million passengers in 2030 and over 100 million in 2050. The Council of Ministers also approved Luís de Camões Airport as the official name of New Lisbon Airport. The new airport will feature two runways with capacity for up to 95 movements per hour and the possibility of expanding to up to four runways. Construction of the first runway requires an investment of EUR3.2 billion, with completion scheduled in 2030. Construction of the second runway requires an investment of EUR2.9 billion and is scheduled for completion in 2031.

Mar-2024. Portugal's Tourism Confederation president Francisco Calheiros expressed his concerns regarding "a possible further postponement of the decision on New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport", following the Portuguese legislative elections on 10-Mar-2024. Mr Calheiros said the postponement "would be extremely harmful for tourism and the country".

Sep-2022. Portugal's Government announced a strategic environmental assessment for the new Lisbon airport solution will be completed by the end of 2023, following a consultation with the opposition party. The project will include an independent technical committee and a monitoring committee, with appointments to be made "in the coming weeks".

Jul-2022. Portugal's Prime Minister ordered the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing to revoke an order to construct New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport by 2026, as part of plan to improve capacity distribution in Lisbon.

Jun-2022. ANA Airports of Portugal welcomed the Portuguese Government's decision to expedite the construction of New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport. The company stated the decision is the "fastest and most economically viable" method for Lisbon to provide enough capacity to meet demand. Portugal's Government plans to abandon a strategic assessment for the future airport solution in Lisbon in order to fast track the construction of New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport, with plans for the facility to enter operation at the end of 2026. The new airport is expected to have capacity to handle five million passengers p/a initially. 

Nov-2019. Portugal's Environment Agency approved plans for the construction of New Lisbon Airport, on the provision the project meets a list of conditions to mitigate the negative impacts on birdlife, noise and mobility.

Sep-2019. Forum para a Competitividade (FC) stated that the Porto region has "great capacity to increase revenue as its airport still has room for handling more passengers". FC also stated that Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport is a "clear obstacle to the expansion of tourism in the [Lisbon] region, which will only be really overcome with the new airport [New Lisbon Montijo Airport] which is expected to become operational in 2022".

Jan-2019. VINCI Airports and ANA Airports of Portugal signed an agreement with Portugal's government to finance the expansion of Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport capacity. EUR1.2 billion will be invested by 2028 for the extension of the existing Lisbon Airport (EUR650 million investment) and the opening of New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport (EUR500 million investment).

Oct-2018. Portugal and ANA Airports of Portugal reached an agreement regarding the expansion of Lisbon's airport infrastructure, including the conversion of Lisbon Montijo Air Base and expansion of Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport. The projects are budgeted at around EUR1 billion/USD1.15 billion, paid in full by ANA Airports of Portugal, with concession period expanded to 50 years.

Jun-2018. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport director Joao Nunes stated Lisbon Montijo Air Base could start handling commercial aviation by 2022.

Mar-2018. Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport capacity figures triggered the concession clause regarding negotiation for the construction of a New Lisbon Airport. To trigger the clause, traffic figures needed to reach three of four thresholds, detailed as follows:

Passengers

• Above 22 million passengers p/a;
• Above 80,000 passengers monthly;

Operations

• Above 185,000 p/a;
• Above 580 monthly.

Feb-2017.

23-Feb-2017. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary suggested it is possible for a low cost airport to be built within 12 months at a cost of EUR25 million, despite ANA Airports of Portugal's expected timeframe of four years to construct Montijo Airport terminal at EUR250 million. He expressed concerns the operator will make Montijo Airport operating costs the same as Lisbon Portela Airport once complete, due to ANA's expected construction costs. Mr O'Leary also said while the airport operator limits growth from 4% to 5% p/a at Lisbon Portela, prices may continue to rise.

16-Feb-2017. ANA Airports of Portugal and Portugal signed a MoU establishing an integrated solution which includes a new master plan for Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, targeting to increase the airport’s capacity. The master plan is being developed by ANA Airports, and Portugal recognised that using Montijo Air Base as an extension to Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport is the most advantageous solution for the capacity bottleneck.

15-Feb-2017. An MoU for the expansion of Lisbon Airport will be signed on 15-Feb-2017, between ANA Airports of Portugal and the Portuguese Government. The agreement includes the conversion of the Montijo Air Base (Lisbon) into a civilian airport, operating as an extension to Lisbon Airport. Conversion of the facilities at Montijo for civil aviation purposes is scheduled for completion in 2018. The prospect of a wholly new airport is as far away as it has ever been and the current plan seems to be the only practical solution, even though the base is located many kilometres away on the other side of the River Tagus.

Jan-2017. Portugal Government and ANA Airports of Portugal reached an agreement for the expansion of Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport. The agreement includes the conversion of Montijo Air Base into a civilian airport, operating as an extension to Lisbon Airport. An MoU will be signed in Feb-2017, and the conversion into civil aviation terminal is scheduled for completion in 2018. 

Nov-2016. Portugal Minister of Infrastructures Pedro Marques announced the government does not have available traffic studies relative to Montijo Air Base, rendering it impossible to take a decision on airport infrastructure for Lisbon. Montijo is part of one of the options to address future capacity issues with Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport. The solution labelled 'Portela+1' uses Montijo’s runway as an appendage to Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport.

Sep-2016. Portugal commenced a study on options to address Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport’s future expected capacity requirements. Current options include expansion, creation of supporting infrastructure or conversion of the Montijo Air Base to support civil aviation.

Jan-2016. Portugal’s Minister of Planning and Infrastructure Pedro Marques stated, in regards to the construction of New Lisbon (Montijo) Airport, “sooner rather than later, we will have to work towards a solution” to the passenger growth at the current airport. ANA’s concession to operate Lisbon Portela Airport requires studies for capacity expansion in Lisbon once passenger numbers reach 22 million. ANA reported 20 million passengers throughout FY2015 at the Lisbon Portela Airport.

Aug-2015. Montijo Mayor Nuno Canta expressed support for negotiations between ANA Airports of Portugal and the Portugal's Air Force regarding the conversion of Montijo Air Base (Lisbon) into a civil aviation airport. An agreement on the airport could be announced in Sep-2015, according to the Ministry of Economy.