Lisbon has banned night flights at the Humberto Delgado Airport between 1 am and 5 am each night in response to protests from local residents and environmental groups. The decision, made by the minister for infrastructure and housing, came after a working group examined the issue and determined that a ban was necessary to address noise and air pollution caused by aircraft. The ban was celebrated as a significant step forward by those who had been campaigning against night flights, but concerns remain about the impact on health and wellbeing of residents, as well as questions about whether scheduled flights running late from their airport of origin will be permitted to land.
The issue of night flights at Humberto Delgado Airport is just one of many challenges facing the facility, which also needs a major upgrade that could take three years and cost €300 million. Concerned citizens have been advocating for a brand-new airport outside the city rather than retrofitting the existing one. The ban on night flights has raised questions about Portugal’s overall struggle with visitor numbers and the impact of tourism on local infrastructure. It also comes at a time when several Portuguese cities, including Lisbon and Faro, are introducing tourist taxes to combat the effects of tourism on their communities.
In addition to the night flight ban and tourist taxes, concerns have been raised about the impact of these measures on the tourism industry in Portugal. Some worry that the bans and taxes could deter visitors and have negative consequences on the economy. However, the government has defended these measures as necessary steps to address issues related to overcrowding, noise, and environmental pollution in popular tourist destinations. The tourism industry in Portugal continues to grow, with 13.1 million visitors between January and August of this year, marking a 6.7% increase from the previous year.
Overall, the ban on night flights in Lisbon is a significant development that reflects the concerns of local residents and environmental groups about noise and air pollution caused by aircraft. While the ban has been celebrated as a positive step forward, concerns remain about its impact on residents’ health and wellbeing, as well as questions about how it will be enforced and whether certain flights will still be permitted to land. The introduction of tourist taxes in various Portuguese cities further highlights the challenges facing the tourism industry in the country, as officials seek to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the need to protect local communities and the environment.
