Publication of the news on The Portugal News’ website also resulted in divisive opinions, with people reacting with incredulity to both nominations.


Late last week, Lisbon airport had been awarded Airport of the Year by Air Transport News (ATN) at the 2019 Air Transport Awards, held in partnership with the Hermes Air Transport Organisation.


The ‘Air Transport Awards’ is the only international prize that distinguishes major categories in the air transport sector.


The awards are awarded by Air Transport News (ATN) in partnership with Hermes Air Transport Organisation.


Following the news, Thierry Ligonnière, Portugal Area Director of VINCI Airports, said: “It is a great honour for Lisbon airport to receive this recognition. Lisbon is an amazing city that grew incredibly in recent years, and the airport has been responding to airline and passenger expectations and coping with this fast growth that brought great challenges.”


VINCI airports further said in a statement that the “award recognises the excellence of the airport’s teams committed to the quality of service of the airport as well as the commitment to contribute to the development of the Portuguese economy by building traffic and investing in infrastructure to support its growth.”


In previous years, Airport of the Year has been awarded to Istanbul Airport (2013 and 2016), Doha Airport (2014), Dubai Airport (2015) and Changi Airport, Singapore (2012, 2017 and 2018).


But within the space of a week, came news that Lisbon airport had been ranked the worst airport in the world and Porto fared only slightly better, according to passenger rights company Airhelp.


Of 132 airports assessed, Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado airport took the bottom spot, with Porto’s Sá Carneiro coming in 125th.


The annual list ranks airports and airlines in terms of punctuality, service quality, shops, food and treatment of complaints, and said the Portuguese airports need to improve significantly when it comes to timekeeping.


AirHelp’s data comes from multiple commercial vendors, along with its own database, plus 40,000 passenger surveys collected in 40 countries during 2018.


Topping AirHelp’s rankings are Doha’s Hamad International Airport, Tokyo Haneda International Airport, and Athens International Airport, which have taken the top spots since the ratings began in 2015 Readers seemed as polarised as the authors of these two reports.

Don McLoed wrote in response that Lisbon had been voted the worst airport: “Something fishy about this story! I can name a lot of bad airports for various reasons and Lisbon is not one of them!”


Alexis Sheldon added: I travel loads and Lisbon is my favourite airport in the world. The best food at reasonable prices, friendliest security, super easy self check in, so close to the city centre.”


But Dave posted the following: “Maybe this result is not so surprising if you have had the misfortune to spend time waiting in T2 at peak period. A zoo, with not enough room, seating or eateries.”


Alan St Clair from the Algarve agreed, saying: “This a joke, right? Lisbon airport is the dullest, most uncomfortable airport in Europe.

Appalling food, with limited choices. Black, steel, dark and unwelcoming. I hate having to stop over here on my way down to the Algarve and will always take the train rather than wait around in this hole for more than an hour. You are kidding!!!”