"I have to say, eye to eye, it is possible to do more, and it is possible to do it faster. It is possible to do more and faster in Porto, it is possible to do more and faster in Lisbon, it is possible to do more and faster in Faro and also in the autonomous regions," said Luís Montenegro at the 80th anniversary of Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport, in Maia, Porto district.

Taking advantage of the presence of Vinci directors, Luís Montenegro reminded them that Portugal has the most profitable operation in the world, with no greater profitability.

"And therefore, those who offer your company the possibility of having this result cannot expect that we did not loyally demand that the investment correspond precisely to that profitability," Montenegro retorted.

Accelerate the new airport

The Prime Minister, assisted by the Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz, said that he wants the new Lisbon airport built as quickly as possible and within the predetermined cost range.

"In this regard, I want to remind you that with all the contractual instruments that bind the Portuguese State to the concessionaire, Vinci, we do have deadlines and costs to meet, and we will not give up on that, we will not fail to use all the provisions of our contract so that we can have this planning and execution done in accordance with the interests of the Portuguese State, the Portuguese people and economic agents," he noted.

But, he added, the construction of the new Lisbon airport must be accompanied by investment in all other airports, namely in Porto, Faro and the autonomous regions.

Valuing other airports

Montenegro stressed that it is necessary to value other airports while a new one is being built, so that the country is competitive as a whole.

“Because if we are competitive as a whole, all regions will benefit. If we allow only one or two of them to gain a dimension and momentum for investment, we will harm the overall objective, and we are not here to accept that,” he stressed.

The Prime Minister emphasised that Portugal is only competitive and makes a difference if there is cross-sectoral investment in all infrastructures.

“Because that is how the country uses public resources to pass on the investments it makes in people's lives,” he concluded.

ANA Aeroportos foresees the opening of the new Lisbon airport in mid-2037, or, with optimisations to the schedule to be negotiated with the Government, at the end of 2036.