The Government will follow the recommendation of the report of the working group on night flights in Lisbon and will apply a total ban on flights between 01:00 and 05:00. The announcement was made this Thursday by the Minister of Infrastructure during the debate on the State Budget proposal in Parliament.
Miguel Pinto Luz did not specify the date on which said imposition, known in English by the name of hard night curfew, It will be operational. The conclusions of the working group on night flights created in 2020 have already been presented and after analyzing this report the Government will prepare the legislation.
A 2022 ordinance is currently in force that introduced an exceptional and temporary regime regarding the operation of aircraft at the Humberto Delgado Airport, according to which there can be a maximum of 91 weekly and 26 daily air movements between 00:00 and 06:00: 00 hours. This ordinance also establishes that the authorization of air movements at night is subject to the noise levels of the aircraft used.
The number of complaints from the population, environmental organizations and mayors against night flights at Lisbon airport has increased. And there are complaints of non-compliance with legal limits by the concessionaire.
Zero defends the end of night flights at Lisbon airport
“We are aware of the complaints of mayors and citizens,” said Pinto Luz. The Minister of Infrastructure also assured that the Government will not escape its environmental responsibilities and has already requested an environmental impact study of the reinforcement works at the Humberto Delgado airport approved in. a resolution of the Council of Ministers. This despite, he noted, the fact that in the past other resolutions that approved works at the current airport had not been subject to an environmental impact study. “This Government has demanded an environmental impact assessment” and depending on the results of this process “all interests will have to be brought together.”
Airport. Lisbon Chamber prepares precautionary measure to prevent expansion works
Despite this commitment, the Lisbon municipal assembly approved a motion, against the PSD minority that holds the presidency of the chamber, for the municipality to take precautionary measures to prevent the progress of these works. The project to reinforce operations at the current airport aims to respond to the growing pressure of demand and the need to improve the quality of service until the new infrastructure in Alcochete is completed.
The Minister of Infrastructure reaffirms the objective of dismantling the current airport within ten years.
Source: Observadora
