ANA delivered the final environmental impact study to APA on 31 July 2026, after 18 months of work by more than 60 specialists. It covers water resources, noise, ecology, air quality, population health and socioeconomics, and proposes minimisation and compensation measures.
APA’s register for process AIA 3982 names ANA as proponent, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing as licensing authority and Benavente and Montijo as municipalities. The consultation and decision fields were empty when we checked. That is what the register shows; it is not proof that nothing has happened elsewhere.
An earlier Alcochete solution received a conditional favourable declaration in 2010. That declaration has lapsed and does not cover today’s design.
The environmental impact study in numbers
- about 5,000pages in the environmental impact study
- more than 60specialists who worked on it, per ANA
- 31 July 2026delivered to the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA)
Printed single-sided, the study would make a pile about 50 cm high (at 0.1 mm a sheet).
- Study delivered
- APA checks it is complete
- Public consultation
- Environmental decision (DIA)
Illustration — not to scale, not the airport design
Flamingos and egrets on the Tagus mudflats, one of Europe's most important wetlands for birds.
Illustration: Luís de Camões Airport Observatory (original work).
Flat farmland of the Tagus lezíria near Benavente, the municipality where most of the firing range — and the future airport — lies. February 2017.
“Lezíria fields near Benavente, Portugal (PPL1-Corrected) julesvernex2”, © Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Resized to 1,600 px wide.
Aircraft landing at Humberto Delgado fly low over the city — here over the 25 de Abril Bridge. The Government cited Lisbon as the European capital with the second-highest number of residents exposed to aircraft noise. September 2023.
“Ponte 25 de Abril seen from a plane on the final approach to the Lisbon airport, Lisbon, Portugal julesvernex2”, © Jules Verne Times Two, 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
APA's public register for process AIA 3982 lists ANA as proponent, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing as licensing authority and Benavente and Montijo as municipalities. On 17 and 18 October 2026 the public-consultation and decision fields were empty. No environmental decision for the current project had been published there.
Source: Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (SIAIA) Details and history: No consultation dates or environmental decision on the APA register
- Status: Completed and verified Fact
ANA delivered the final environmental impact study to the Portuguese Environment Agency on 31 July 2026. It runs to about 5,000 pages, was prepared over 18 months by more than 60 specialists and covers water, noise, ecology, air quality, population health and socioeconomics.
Source: Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (SIAIA) Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Details and history: Environmental impact study delivered to APA on 31 July 2026
- 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
Preparatory actions listed in July 2026 include restructuring airspace to fit the new airport alongside other civil and military traffic, and planning water, fuel, electricity and telecommunications supply.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Details and history: Airspace restructuring and utility networks are being planned
- Status: Historical / superseded Fact
An earlier airport solution at the eastern end of the Campo de Tiro de Alcochete received a conditional favourable environmental impact declaration in 2010. That declaration has since lapsed.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXV Constitutional Government) Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Details and history: A conditional favourable environmental declaration was issued for Alcochete in 2010
Open questions
When will the public consultation on the environmental study open, and will all volumes be downloadable?
Open
Why it matters
The consultation is the public's formal chance to comment on noise, water, ecology and health impacts.
What is known so far
The study was delivered on 31 July 2026. APA's register showed no consultation dates on 18 October 2026.
Source: Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (SIAIA) Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports)
What mitigation and compensation measures does the environmental study propose?
Open
Why it matters
These measures, and any conditions APA attaches, define the airport's environmental footprint.
What is known so far
ANA says measures were identified to ensure an environmentally viable project. Their content has not been reviewed by the observatory.
How will water, fuel and power reach the airport?
Open
Why it matters
Supply networks can have their own environmental and community impacts.
What is known so far
Planning of water, fuel, electricity and telecoms supply is listed among preparatory actions; no project details were found.
Questions answered
Has the environmental impact assessment been completed?
No. ANA delivered the study to APA on 31 July 2026 (process AIA 3982). On 18 October 2026 the register showed no consultation dates and no decision. No environmental permit should be assumed.
Source: Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (SIAIA) Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Permalink: Has the environmental impact assessment been completed?
What does the environmental study cover?
According to ANA: water resources, noise, ecological systems, air quality, population health and socioeconomics, with minimisation and compensation measures. It runs to about 5,000 pages and was prepared by more than 60 specialists over 18 months.
Source: ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (VINCI Airports) Permalink: What does the environmental study cover?
Can I read the environmental study and comment on it?
Not yet, as far as the public register shows. Public participation happens during APA’s public consultation, whose dates were not set on the register at the baseline date. The observatory will publish the dates when they appear.
Source: Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (SIAIA) Permalink: Can I read the environmental study and comment on it?
Wasn’t Alcochete already environmentally approved in 2010?
An earlier airport solution there received a conditional favourable environmental declaration in 2010. It has lapsed and does not cover the current design, which is being assessed in its own process.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXV Constitutional Government) Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Permalink: Wasn’t Alcochete already environmentally approved in 2010?
Sources
Related explainers
Dated update
18 October 2026: no consultation dates yet on the environmental register
A dated check of the public record at launch.
Explainer
The environmental study: 5,000 pages and an empty register
ANA delivered its environmental impact study on 31 July 2026. What it covers, where the process stands, and why a blank register field is not the end of the story.