Two years after the Government chose Alcochete, it is easy to assume the new airport is a settled project. It is not. Only a few things are fixed by legal instruments; most of what is reported as ‘the airport’ is a proposal by the concessionaire, ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, that the Government has questioned in writing.
Concept CGI — not an approved design Luís de Camões concept (2026)
ANA's aerial concept image: the two initial runways, the central terminal and its piers, with car parks and access roads in the foreground. A preliminary design, still under Government review; the text on the image is ANA's.
“Aeroporto Luís de Camões — vista aérea”, © ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, used with permission, via copy published by Pontos pra Voar. Converted to JPEG.
The approval path: done, under review, still to come
- 14 May 2024Site chosen by Council of Ministers resolutionDone
- 16 July 2025Interim report 1: stakeholder consultationDone
- 20 March 2026Placement at the eastern end validatedDone
- 16 July 2026Technical report deliveredDone
- 31 July 2026Environmental impact study delivered to APADone
- 28 September 2026Government questions the design (not an acceptance)Under review
- 16 January 2027Interim report 4: financial report dueScheduled
- by 16 January 2028Complete application dueScheduled
- —Public consultation and environmental decision (APA)No date set
- —Acceptance of the complete application under the concessionNo date set
- 2029Construction (target 2029–2033)Target only
- from 2035Opening (target: from 2035)Target only
Decided by law
- The site. Council of Ministers Resolution 66/2024 selected the Campo de Tiro de Alcochete.
- Replacing Humberto Delgado. The same decision established that the new airport will replace the current one completely; Humberto Delgado stays only until the new airport operates.
- Preparing the land. RCM 30/2026 set preventive land-use measures, and RCM 119/2026 authorised up to €4.5 million plus VAT for demilitarisation work.
Agreed, but not approved
In March 2026 the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing agreed to place the airport at the eastern end of the firing range. That is a step in the concession procedure, not an environmental approval or a building permit.
Proposed, and under review
The design — two runways, a single terminal of about 500,000 m², 64 gates — and the €7.9–8.9 billion estimate at 2024 prices come from ANA’s technical report of 16 July 2026. On 28 September the Government asked for more demand scenarios, proof of Code F compatibility and an expansion strategy, and said its reply was not acceptance of the application.
Not decided at all
- Environmental approval. The study is with APA under process AIA 3982; the register showed no consultation dates and no decision on 18 October 2026.
- Financing. ANA plans about €7 billion of debt; the financial report is due on 16 January 2027.
- Rail, the Third Tagus Crossing and roads. Announced, with targets, but no approved alignments or contracts found.
- Construction and opening. Targets of 2029–2033 and ‘from 2035’.
Our approvals dashboard tracks each component and will change only when a primary document justifies it.