It looks like Lisbon is finally getting another airport…well…not Lisbon exactly. The new airport is to be built across the river in Montijo. There has been talk of an airport there for years (it has been talked about since 1969), but an actual agreement has been signed by the Portuguese government and the ANA, so it looks like this time it’s for real. Here’s everything you need to know about Montijo Airport (or at least everything I have been able to find out).

Montijo Airport in Lisbon

Why a New Lisbon Airport? Chances are if you’re on this blog, it’s because you’ve been hearing all about Lisbon lately. Portugal’s capital city has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Here are a few Lisbon Tourism stats to put this all into context:

• In 2017, there was an increase of 12% in foreign tourists coming to Portugal (12.7 million people)
• Of those 12.7 million, 4.5 visited Lisbon
• In 2017, there were 10.31 million people LIVING in all of Portugal
• In 2011, 552,700 people lived in Lisbon

Where is the New Airport Projected? The new airport is to be built in Montijo across the river from Lisbon at the Montijo Airbase. Montijo is not officially part of Lisboa estate and is actually in Setubal. I’ve been there. It is traditional, there’s nothing going on, and it is cute…but boring. An airport there is certainly going to change things…but there are plenty of things to consider which leads to the next section. How will travelers get from Montijo to Lisboa? This airport would be like a JFK or a Newark to NY. Since it is not “in the city” it will take a while to get there and from what I know, the access infrastructure is not really there. Without traffic, you can be in Montijo by car in 30-40 minutes and if that car is an Uber, it will cost you €35 to start. When there is traffic, getting from Montijo to Lisboa is hellish. There are no trains or metros, so this is currently not an option for getting from Montijo to Lisboa. If you want to do public transport, you’d need to take a bus into Lisbon and then metro to wherever you’re going…so getting from Montijo to Lisbon will be problematic. The Vasco de Gama Bridge is nearby and so is the Seixalinho terminal, but those are less than stellar ways to get around and will tack on significant ttime to your travels. What Airlines Will the Montijo Airport Serve? This airport is being built to service low-cost airlines, so it will be mostly used by European tourists coming into Lisboa. Some of the airlines listed by interest:

• RyanAir
• EasyJet – they’d like to stay in Portela
• TAP – Also wants to stay in Portela

How Many Flights Will Fly in and out of Montijo Airport? It is expected that there will be “72 movements per hour” which is double what we are doing now with Portela Airport alone. Is There Anything That Will Halt its Construction? The environmental impact study is still being done, so this could affect the timeline for this airport to be put to use. What are potential benefits for Tourism in Lisbon? Since the Montijo airport is being built for low-cost airline carriers, there should be cheaper flights into the area, lower baggage costs (but imho – knowing that low-cost flights are never truly low-cost and are ridden with hidden fees – I highly doubt this). When will Portela airport be ready? Construction is due to start this year and to be ready by 2021. Have any other interesting info on the airport. I’d love to hear about it. Leave the info in the comments area below.