CEO of Ryanair accuses government of blocking the growth of Lisbon airport to protect TAP

The CEO of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has accused Portugal’s government of limiting the growth capacity of Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport to protect TAP during its privatisation process.

Michael O’Leary also confirmed that the company will stop flying to the Azores from the end of March, blaming EU environmental taxes.

The Government “is protecting TAP while it is being sold and in the meantime the Portuguese, the citizens of Lisbon, are paying higher fares,” said the manager of the Irish airline during a press conference on Wednesday in Lisbon. “The capacity at Montijo (an alternative proposed site for Lisbon’s new airport but now discarded in favour of Alcochete) can be increased with a stroke of a pen,” he said.

The current capacity of Humberto Delgado airport is 38 movements per hour, on average. An increase to 45 movements, which is planned by the Government, requires an environmental impact assessment and approval by the APA. The Portuguese airports management company ANA (VINCI) expects to deliver the environmental impact study later this year.

Michael 0’Leary, who had met with government officials over a year ago, repeated a call for the new airport to be built at Montijo on the South bank of the River Tagus at Lisbon. He said it could be ready by 2028.

“The new airport will not be built in my lifetime and they are idiots” said O’Leary referring to what he called the government’s inability to solve the lack of capacity at Lisbon airport.

Ryanair has 12 aircraft based in Porto and Faro, but only four in Lisbon. O’Leary said an increase in capacity at Lisbon could mean Ryanair could operate 20-25 aircraft from Lisbon, contributing to the growth in tourism.

SOURCE: ECO

Image: EPA/RODRIGO JIMENEZ
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