Costa guarantees airports are ready for traffic to resume

The Prime Minister has stated that the Portuguese airports guarantee safety and hygiene conditions to prevent contagions from the Covid-19 and are prepared for the resumption of air traffic from 15 June.

António Costa made his statement message after a visit of almost two hours to the international airport of Lisbon, from the departures area, to the baggage reclaim area, going through the expansion works of the runway next to Terminal 2.

“I believe I can say what the Directorate-General for Health has already said, but also what international civil aviation institutions have already said, that is, that Portugal’s airports are ready, comply with safety standards and are prepared to welcome the resumption of air traffic with all normality”, declared the Prime Minister.

“For this to happen it is essential that passengers, whether they want to leave or want to arrive, know that they can travel safely. There is work to be done with the airlines, but airports are an absolutely critical point, because people from all over the world cross them”, stressed António Costa at the end of a visit in which none of the main members of the Executive Committee or of the Board of Directors of TAP was present.

For the Prime Minister, “respect for hygiene and safety standards is the greatest guarantee that the reopening of traffic is not an uncontrolled risk factor for the development of this pandemic”.

António Costa also spoke about the improvements introduced in the airport stores and the creation of “safe circuits in order to avoid risky situations”.