Portugal unveils plans for a new Lisbon airport

Portugal has revealed details for a new Lisbon airport. A major new international aviation hub, the Aeroporto Luís de Camões is set to be constructed approximately 36 kilometres east of Lisbon at the Campo de Tiro de Alcochete, according to multiple media reports.

Operated by Aeroportos de Portugal (ANA), a subsidiary of Vinci Airports, the infrastructural project is estimated to cost between US$9.01 billion and US$10.15 billion. The new Lisbon airport is designed to replace the existing Humberto Delgado Airport and accommodate increasing passenger demand, with the overall aim of bolstering Portugal’s status as a central European aviation hub.

Construction of the facility is slated to commence in 2029 with completion initially targeted for 2033. Operations are expected to begin in 2035, two years ahead of the original 2037 schedule.

Details of the new Lisbon airport

According to the plans, the initial phase of the development will feature two runways, 64 boarding gates, 72 passenger boarding bridges, 120 aircraft stands, and a main terminal spanning roughly 500,000 square metres. This phase is projected to handle 56 million passengers annually, with capacity potentially increasing to 85 million in subsequent stages.

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Transport infrastructure upgrades are central to the new Lisbon airport. These include a high-speed rail link via the planned Third Tagus Crossing, which is anticipated to reduce travel time between the airport and Lisbon’s city centre to approximately 20 minutes. The development also involves the construction of over 250 kilometres of new roads and the upgrading of 50 kilometres of the existing network.

ANA has stated that it will submit the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment to the Portuguese Environment Agency before the end of July. Upon approval by the relevant authorities, the project will advance to the detailed architectural and design stage.