The Luís de Camões Airport project, presented by the concessionaire ANA this Wednesday, will feature a rail shuttle connection via a 5-kilometer tunnel linked to the future high-speed line between Lisbon and Madrid. This rail link is designed to provide a 20-minute travel time to the capital by utilizing a new third crossing of the Tagus River between Chelas and Barreiro. According to the technical report, the project carries an estimated investment between 7.9 and 8.9 mil milhões de euros, based on 2024 prices.
Project Scope and Infrastructure Requirements
The development covers 6,500 hectares across the municipalities of Benavente and Montijo. Infrastructure plans include the construction of 250 kilometers of new roads and the requalification of 50 kilometers of existing routes. Beyond transport, the government is evaluating systems for fuel, electricity, telecommunications, and water supply, with specific protections for the aquifer located beneath the site, according to Secretary of State for Infrastructures Hugo Espírito Santo.
The facility is designed to handle 56 million passengers upon opening, with the potential to reach an eventual capacity of 85 million passengers. The initial phase includes two runways, 64 boarding gates, 72 contact boarding bridges, and a passenger terminal of 500,000 square meters. Furthermore, the project requires the desmilitarization of the Alcochete Shooting Range by 2028 and a restructuring of the airspace over the Greater Lisbon area, a process currently underway with NAV and ANAC.
Did You Know?
The future airport site occupies land in the municipalities of Benavente and Montijo, a shift from earlier discussions regarding the Montijo air base, leading ANA CEO Thierry Ligonnière to note that the “geography was more stubborn than the concessionaire.”
Timeline and Financial Modeling
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2029 with completion expected by 2033. Following a two-year period for testing and certification, the infrastructure is slated for inauguration in 2035, according to the IMT. While the January 2025 report initially suggested 2037 as the opening year, the concessionaire has indicated a possible acceleration to late 2036.
ANA is responsible for the project’s financing and will present a formal financial model to the state in January 2027. This model is expected to incorporate equity, debt, and operational revenues, such as airline fees. The current cost estimates provided by ANA exclude the expenses associated with state-led infrastructure, such as the third Tagus crossing and the airport’s rail connection, for which total costs remain unknown.
Environmental Assessment and Next Steps
The immediate priority for the project is the environmental impact assessment, with a report of 5,000 pages prepared by a team of over 250 specialists scheduled for delivery to the Portuguese Environment Agency by the end of this month. ANA President José Luís Arnaut stated that this work, previously conducted in private, is now entering the public domain.
Minister of Infrastructures Miguel Pinto Luz emphasized the need for national consensus to ensure the project’s progression, describing the current phase as a collective effort to finalize a long-standing goal. The government is also considering a new concession model to cover all Tagus River crossings in Lisbon, though studies regarding the potential Algés-Trafaria connection remain pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the new airport expected to open?
Inauguration is planned for 2035, with the possibility of completion by late 2036 or 2037 based on updated projections.
Who is responsible for the funding?
ANA is responsible for the airport investment, while the state is responsible for the surrounding infrastructure, including the third Tagus crossing and rail links.
How will passengers travel from the airport to the city?
A rail shuttle will connect the airport to the high-speed Lisbon-Madrid line through a 5-kilometer tunnel, allowing for a 20-minute transit time to the capital.
How will the integration of this new airport influence the future of the existing Humberto Delgado facility in Lisbon?
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