The technical report consolidates preliminary design studies: functional programme, operating capacity, multimodal connectivity and long-term structural solutions. ANA describes the building as conceived to be ‘Net Zero’; VINCI adds 120 aircraft stands and 194 self-service kiosks.
ANA’s earlier report included a Terminal 2 or satellite; the July 2026 report does not. In September 2026 the Government asked for the decision to be justified and for a scalability strategy, including the pre-installations needed for future expansion and the criteria for moving between phases.
No architects, design firms or construction contracts are named in the sources reviewed. Published images are concept renders and are shown here only with documented permission.
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.
Concept CGI — not an approved design Luís de Camões concept (2026)
A boarding area in ANA's concept, with wood panelling and old maps of the Portuguese discoveries as decoration.
“Aeroporto Luís de Camões — zona de embarque”, © ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, used with permission, via copy published by E-Konomista. Converted to JPEG.
Concept CGI — not an approved design Luís de Camões concept (2026)
A long departures pier with moving walkways and seating areas decorated with tile patterns, in ANA's concept.
“Aeroporto Luís de Camões — cais de embarque”, © ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, used with permission, via copy published by Pontos pra Voar. Converted to JPEG.
Concept CGI — not an approved design Luís de Camões concept (2026)
Piers with contact boarding bridges and remote stands. ANA's proposal has 120 aircraft stands (the text is ANA's). Airline colours in the image are illustrative and imply no airline commitment.
“Aeroporto Luís de Camões — posições de estacionamento”, © ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, used with permission, via copy published by Pontos pra Voar. Converted to JPEG.
The July 2026 design at a glance
Proposed by ANA in July 2026 — under Government review since 28 September 2026. Not approved.
- 2runways in the initial phaseStatus: Officially proposed
- about 500,000 m²single passenger terminalStatus: Officially proposed
- 64boarding gatesStatus: Officially proposed
- 72contact boarding bridgesStatus: Officially proposed
- 120aircraft stands (VINCI release)Status: Officially proposed
- 56 millionpassengers a year at openingStatus: Officially proposed
- up to 85 millionpassengers a year, long termStatus: Target / forecast
- 7,900–8,900 € millioninvestment estimate, 2024 pricesStatus: Officially proposed
- from 2035opening target, after tests and certificationStatus: Target / forecast
How big is a 500,000 m² terminal?
about 500,000 m² of terminal floor area ≈ 70 football pitches of 105 × 68 m. Status: Officially proposed
Terminal 1 of the current airport in May 2017. Under the 2024 decision, Humberto Delgado stays open, with capacity works, until the new airport operates.
“Lisbon Portela Airport Terminal 1, May 2017 (01)”, © Ardfern, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized to 1,600 px wide.
Terminal 2 of the current airport in May 2019. ANA has since extended its Schengen boarding area as part of transitional works.
“Lisbon Airport, Terminal 2 (1)”, © Jcornelius, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized to 1,600 px wide.
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What the documents say
- Status: Under review Fact
ANA's technical report provides for a single passenger terminal and no longer includes the Terminal 2 or satellite terminal of its initial report. The Government asked ANA to justify this and present a clear scalability strategy, including the pre-installations needed for future expansion and the criteria for moving between phases.
Source: Portuguese Government — Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Details and history: Single terminal replaces the earlier Terminal 2 or satellite concept
- Status: Officially proposed Forecast
The airport is designed for a capacity of 56 million passengers a year when it opens.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXV Constitutional Government) Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Source: Jornal de Negócios Details and history: Capacity of 56 million passengers a year at opening
- Status: Target / forecast Forecast
The airport could grow to 85 million passengers a year over the long term, according to the July 2026 presentation.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXV Constitutional Government) Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Details and history: Growth to 85 million passengers a year
- Status: Officially proposed Proposal
ANA says the airport was conceived to be a 'Net Zero' building, combining advanced technology, operational efficiency and environmental sustainability criteria.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Details and history: ‘Net Zero’ building ambition
- Status: Officially proposed Proposal
The design includes 64 boarding gates and 72 contact boarding bridges.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Source: Jornal de Negócios Details and history: 64 boarding gates and 72 contact boarding bridges
- Status: Officially proposed Proposal
The design provides for a passenger terminal of about 500,000 m².
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Source: VINCI Airports Source: Jornal de Negócios Details and history: A single passenger terminal of about 500,000 m²
- Status: Completed and verified Fact
ANA delivered the technical report for the new airport to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing on 16 July 2026. It consolidates the preliminary design studies: functional programme, operating capacity, multimodal connectivity and long-term structural solutions.
Source: Portuguese Government — Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Source: VINCI Airports Details and history: Technical report delivered on 16 July 2026
- Status: Officially proposed Proposal
The July 2026 design provides for two runways in the initial phase.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Source: VINCI Airports Source: Jornal de Negócios Details and history: Two runways in the initial phase
- Status: Officially proposed Proposal
VINCI Airports' English-language announcement adds 120 aircraft stands and 194 self-service check-in kiosks.
Source: VINCI Airports Details and history: 120 aircraft stands and 194 self-service kiosks
- Status: Completed and verified Fact
In March 2026 the Government expressed reservations about ANA's traffic projections, considering them too conservative and warning of the risk of undersizing the airport, and asked for them to be revised. It also asked for the 'Pier Swing' to be reconfigured for greater operational flexibility.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXV Constitutional Government) Details and history: March 2026: Government considered ANA’s traffic forecasts too conservative
- Status: Under review Proposal
Among the specification changes discussed in 2025 were openness to reducing the maximum runway length, increasing the distance between runways to allow triple independent operations, and more contact stands to allow walk-boarding.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXV Constitutional Government) Details and history: Proposed changes: shorter maximum runway length, wider runway separation
Open questions
Which designers, architects and contractors have been appointed?
Open
Why it matters
Named firms and contracts are the first concrete sign that design and construction are moving from proposal to delivery.
What is known so far
ANA says a multidisciplinary team of more than 250 people works on the project. No design or construction contracts were identified in the sources reviewed.
Which parts of the published images are illustrative, and which images belong to older concepts?
Open
Why it matters
Concept images shape public expectations; old Alcochete or Montijo images are sometimes recirculated as if current.
What is known so far
ANA released concept images and a film in July 2026. The design is under review, so they should be read as illustrative.
Will the single-terminal design survive the review?
Open
Why it matters
Dropping a second terminal or satellite changes how the airport can grow.
What is known so far
The Government asked ANA to justify the change and present a clear scalability strategy with pre-installations for expansion.
Source: Portuguese Government — Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing
Questions answered
How many runways will it have?
Two in the initial phase, according to the July 2026 design. The 2024 strategic recommendation allowed for expansion to four runways in the long term; that is a different scenario.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Permalink: How many runways will it have?
How big will the terminal be?
About 500,000 m², with 64 boarding gates and 72 contact boarding bridges. VINCI also cites 120 aircraft stands and 194 self-service kiosks. These are proposals under review.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Source: VINCI Airports Permalink: How big will the terminal be?
Why does it matter that there is only one terminal?
ANA’s July 2026 report dropped the second terminal or satellite in its earlier report. Growth then depends on extending one building. The Government asked ANA to justify the change and show how the airport can scale, including the pre-installations and the triggers for each phase.
Source: Portuguese Government — Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Permalink: Why does it matter that there is only one terminal?
Are the published images the final design?
No. They are concept images released with a design that is still under review. The observatory does not republish them without a licence and labels all concept imagery as ‘not an approved design’.
Source: Portuguese Government — Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal Permalink: Are the published images the final design?
Who are the architects?
Not established in the public record
Unknown. The sources reviewed do not name the architects or design firms. ANA describes a multidisciplinary team of more than 250 people.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Permalink: Who are the architects?
Will the terminal be carbon neutral?
ANA says the airport was conceived as a ‘Net Zero’ building. It has not defined which emissions are covered or how they will be measured, so the observatory records it as an aspiration.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Permalink: Will the terminal be carbon neutral?
Sources
Government responds to ANA’s technical report on the new Lisbon airport
Original: Government responds to ANA’s technical report on the new Lisbon airport Link checked
First images of the new Luís de Camões airport revealed (Euronews)
Original: First images of the new Luís de Camões airport revealed (Euronews) Link checked
Luís de Camões Airport should represent an investment of between 7.9 and 8.9 billion
Original: Luís de Camões Airport should represent an investment of between 7.9 and 8.9 billion Link checked
Two runways and 64 boarding gates: see what the new Luís de Camões airport will look like
Original: Two runways and 64 boarding gates: see what the new Luís de Camões airport will look like Link checked
ANA delivers the technical report for the new Lisbon airport
Original: ANA delivers the technical report for the new Lisbon airport Link checked
ANA launch film for Luís de Camões Airport (YouTube)
Original: ANA launch film for Luís de Camões Airport (YouTube) Link checked
New Lisbon airport: VINCI Airports reaffirms its commitment to the development of the Portuguese economy
Original: New Lisbon airport: VINCI Airports reaffirms its commitment to the development of the Portuguese economy Link checked
Related explainers
Investigation
The 28 September letter: what the Government sent back to ANA
Demand, Code F, a single terminal and the calendar. The Government’s response to the technical report reopens the design’s biggest questions.
Explainer
One terminal, two runways: the July 2026 design in detail
What ANA’s technical report proposes, which figures come from where, and what the Government wants changed.