The Independent Technical Commission examined strategic options, including Alcochete and Vendas Novas. In May 2024 the Government chose Alcochete, citing public land, a previous environmental declaration (since lapsed), proximity to Lisbon and to the main transport links. It rejected a two-airport solution as doubling environmental effects.
A complementary airport at the Montijo air base was proposed in earlier years and abandoned. An Alcochete solution received a conditional favourable environmental declaration in 2010. Images of these earlier concepts still circulate; we label them by vintage and never present them as the current design.
Concept CGI — not an approved design Luís de Camões concept (2026)
ANA concept image: aerial view of Luís de Camões Airport (July 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.
- Editorial placeholderNot cleared — do not publish
Concept CGI — not an approved design Alcochete concept 2008–2010 (superseded)
Earlier Alcochete airport concepts (2008–2010)
Images of the earlier Alcochete studies still circulate online. They do not show the 2026 design and must not be presented as current.
Image, © Not established, Unknown.
- Editorial placeholderNot cleared — do not publish
Concept CGI — not an approved design Montijo proposal (superseded)
Montijo complementary-airport proposal images
Images of the superseded Montijo proposal. Historical only.
Image, © Not established, Unknown.
Concept CGI — not an approved design Luís de Camões concept (2026)
ANA concept image: piers and aircraft stands
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.
Concept CGI — not an approved design Luís de Camões concept (2026)
ANA concept image: arrivals hall
Baggage reclaim in ANA's concept for the terminal: high roof lights, trees and stone benches. Interior finishes are not fixed at this stage.
“Aeroporto Luís de Camões — sala de chegadas”, © ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal, used with permission, via copy published by Euronews. Converted to JPEG, resized to 1,600 px wide.
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)
ANA concept image: departures pier
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.
Illustration — not to scale, not the airport design
A schematic map with several candidate sites and one chosen. Pins are symbolic, not real locations.
Illustration: Luís de Camões Airport Observatory (original work).
The 2024 two-runway figure, split by runway
- First runway3,231 € million
- Second runway2,874 € million
Total for two runways: 6,105 € million Status: Historical / superseded
What the documents say
- 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
- Status: Historical / superseded Forecast
The Government's 2024 announcement gave the total cost of two runways as €6,105 million: €3,231 million for the first and €2,874 million for the second.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Details and history: 2024 analysis: €6,105 million for two runways
- Status: Target / forecast Forecast
The 2024 decision recommended a base model of two runways handling 90–95 movements an hour, with the possibility of expanding to four runways for passenger traffic that could exceed 100 million a year by 2050.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Details and history: 2024 base model: two runways, expandable to four
- Status: Historical / superseded Target
In May 2024 the Government said the first runway should be built in 2030 and the second in 2031.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Details and history: 2024 target: first runway by 2030, second by 2031
Open questions
No open questions recorded for this topic.
Questions answered
Why Alcochete and not Vendas Novas?
In May 2024 the Government said Alcochete is entirely on public land (Vendas Novas would require expropriations), had a previous environmental declaration (since lapsed), is closer to central Lisbon and nearer the main road and rail links.
Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Permalink: Why Alcochete and not Vendas Novas?
What happened to the Montijo option?
A complementary airport at the Montijo air base was proposed in earlier years and later abandoned in favour of a single new airport. The Government argued in 2024 that a two-airport solution would double negative environmental effects. Montijo still appears as a municipality in the environmental register.
Source: Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (SIAIA) Source: Portuguese Government (XXIV Constitutional Government) Permalink: What happened to the Montijo option?
Who examined the alternatives?
An Independent Technical Commission examined strategic options, including Alcochete and Vendas Novas, before the Government’s 2024 choice. Its material is on the Aeroparticipa portal.
Source: Comissão Técnica Independente Permalink: Who examined the alternatives?
Sources
Related explainers
Explainer
Half a century of searching: Alcochete, Montijo, Vendas Novas and the 2024 choice
Why Alcochete won, what was rejected, and how to avoid confusing old plans and images with the current one.