He confirmed that ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal is expected to deliver the first phase of the environmental impact report by the end of this month, or at the latest by mid-February.

On Wednesday, 7 January, the assurance was given during the presentation of the expansion works at Terminal 2 of Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (AHD). According to the Minister, the Government and the national airport concessionaire are complying with “all dimensions” required for the development of the new airport.

Miguel Pinto Luz also stated that Portugal is currently experiencing “the largest cycle of public investment in recent decades”, which includes improvements to both terminals at Humberto Delgado Airport as well as the construction of the new infrastructure in Alcochete.

“I can assure that ANA is complying and will deliver the first phase of the environmental report this month”, he said, adding that under the current Government, “the time for exemptions and postponements is over”.

The Minister reiterated his commitment that Portugal will have a new airport within 10 to 12 years, noting that this timeframe reflects differing projections between the Government and ANA on the date the infrastructure could become operational.

Despite ongoing upgrades at Humberto Delgado Airport, Miguel Pinto Luz argued that a new airport is essential to meet the country’s long-term needs. “We need a new airport to serve the Portuguese people”, he continued, “serving the Portuguese people also means serving national tourism”.

Addressing criticism of Portugal’s reliance on tourism, the Minister defended the sector’s role in economic growth. “We often hear that the economy cannot live on tourism alone. But it was tourism that ensured that, over the past 10 years, we were able to grow as we did”, he explained. “In moments of greater crisis, it was the sector that sustained the economy and ensured that Portugal continued to grow. That is why we must rise to the challenge it presents and provide infrastructure capable of supporting it.”

Miguel Pinto Luz also emphasised that the entire process would be conducted with complete transparency. He pointed to the publication of the stakeholder report and said the same approach would apply once the environmental impact assessment is completed.

“Over the 36 months leading up to the final submission of the application – including design, preparation works and environmental studies – all requirements are being fulfilled so that we can have a new airport to replace the current one”, he elaborated on the progress.

Before concluding, the Minister revealed that the Government is already considering future uses for the land occupied by Humberto Delgado Airport after operations are transferred to Alcochete. Any decision, he said, will be taken jointly with the municipalities of Loures and Lisbon.