Lisbon airport hits record of 33 million passengers

Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado airport has reached a new passenger record of 33 million.

However, according to a report by the television channel TVI, the airport will only reach its maximum capacity of 49 million passengers per year in 2033 once certain improvements have been made.
This additional capacity is written into a study on the projected demand for the new TGV high-speed rail link between Porto and Lisbon that has been delivered to the European Commission as part of the government’s application for community funds.
The current Lisbon airport could see its capacity expanded to process 49 million passengers. In order to achieve this air corridors would have to be increased to allow 44 takeoff and landings per hour compared to the 38 now to meet peak hours demand.
The Portuguese air traffic control entity, NAV, has not clarified if it is studying this possibility and the next government that wins the elections on March 10, will have to decide if it will respond to a call from tourism agents and agencies such as the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal to increase capacity at the airport with the same organisation considering it “criminal to turn away more flights with tourists” because of its impact on the sector and the Portuguese economy, or to give in to pressure from environmentalists who do not want more air traffic over the capital.