Lisbon's airport, crowded between mountains and sea, has long been straining at its capacity while waiting for a second airport to be developed at Montijo. But the cap on flights will soon be significantly increased, giving needed breathing space.
The airspace in the Lisbon area will be gradually re-organized, moving some types of traffic onto different paths and time slots; the result will be a steady rise from 44 take-offs or landings an hour to 72. The plan has been approved by INFANAV, a joint agency of the airport operator, the Portuguese Air Force and Navy. The plan especially juggles military and civilian use.
The plan for a new airport at Montijo, south of the capital and across the Tejo River, repurposes a long-existing Air Force base. The existing runways will be used, but new terminals and roadways will need to be built. The plan has been in the works a long time, but finally received environmental approval two months ago.
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