Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, opposes the plan to increase airport taxes in 2026 for the new Lisbon airport at the Alcochete Shooting Range, criticizing it as flawed and suggesting immediate solutions for capacity enhancement at Humberto Delgado airport.
O’Leary stated that while the new airport is projected to open in 2037, the funding through increased fees is unjustifiable since it won’t be operational until 2040.
He advocates for the construction of a new airport in Montijo, which could potentially be operational within five years, warning that Portugal risks losing growth to neighbouring countries like Spain and France by 2040 or 2050.
Ryanair aims to boost its operations in Portugal, with plans to increase passenger numbers from 12.7m last year to an estimated 27m by 2030, contingent on reduced airport fees and higher capacity.
