Uncertainty Over New Lisbon Airport Sparks Concern in Portugal’s Tourism Sector

Published on March 25, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

The tourism sector in Portugal is facing significant uncertainty due to delays in the construction of the new Lisbon Airport, a project that could take up to 20 years to complete. With the current timeline for the airport’s completion stretching to 2037, the lack of progress is causing alarm among industry leaders, who fear that prolonged delays will negatively impact the country’s tourism industry.

According to Francisco Calheiros, president of the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP), the tourism sector cannot afford to wait two decades for the new infrastructure. Calheiros expressed deep concern in a recent interview with Lusa, emphasizing that the national tourism industry, which plays a key role in Portugal’s economy, would not be able to survive such a long wait without the necessary airport capacity.

“I think it will take 20 years, and Portuguese tourism cannot survive 20 years without an airport,” Calheiros stated, referencing the uncertainty surrounding the location of the new airport. While the Alcochete Shooting Range has been proposed as the official location for the new airport, political instability and changes in government leadership have raised doubts about whether this plan will come to fruition.

Political Instability and Tourism Concerns

The political landscape in Portugal adds to the uncertainty surrounding the new airport project. Calheiros points out that if a government led by the Socialist Party (PS) takes power, the approach to the airport project may differ significantly from that of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Moreover, even within the PSD, there is no guarantee that the current government plans will be upheld.

“The new government, if it is from the PS, will be completely different. If it is from the PSD, we do not know if the ministers will be the same,” Calheiros remarked, reflecting the general unease within the tourism industry about the continuity of decisions regarding the airport’s location.

Despite this uncertainty, Pedro Nuno Santos, secretary-general of the PS and former Minister of Infrastructure, has assured that if he is elected Prime Minister, the Alcochete location will remain the plan for the new airport. However, the political instability continues to cast doubt on the feasibility of the project moving forward as planned.

Delays and Potential Economic Impact

Aeroportos de Portugal (NA), the Vinci Group-managed entity responsible for managing the country’s airports, has estimated that the new Lisbon Airport could be operational by mid-2037. With some optimizations to the schedule, it might open as early as the end of 2036. However, given the current stagnation in negotiations with the government, these timelines are subject to change.

The lack of movement in talks between the government and the airport’s concessionaire has further exacerbated the situation. Calheiros warned that the current halt in negotiations would only make the problem worse, increasing uncertainty in the tourism sector and potentially leading to even further delays.

The ongoing delays, coupled with political uncertainty, have created a perfect storm of challenges for the Portuguese tourism sector, which is heavily reliant on the infrastructure that the new airport would provide. Without clear and decisive action from the government, there are growing concerns that the tourism industry will suffer in the years to come. For more information on the progress of the new Lisbon Airport, citizens and businesses can follow updates from government and aviation authorities.