Ponte de Sor, Portugal, Oct 10. 2024 (Lusa) - ANA—Aeroportos de Portugal CEO Thierry Ligonnière said on Thursday that the company would invest €120 million in national airport infrastructure this year.
Speaking on the opening day of the 7th edition of the Portugal Air Summit, in Ponte de Sor, in the district of Portalegre, ANA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) said that the company was "working" on "planning for the future" of its infrastructures.
"Not just in Lisbon, but in all our airports," he said, noting that, at the same time, ANA's teams “are also looking at the near future of existing airports”.
That's why, he continued, "this year, we're realising and delivering a plan with €120 million in investments".
Thierry Ligonnière pointed out that "major operations are underway" at Porto airport, in a "€50 million investment that is quite significant, quite sensitive, in what is the airport's greatest asset, which is its runway'.
"There are obviously operations in Faro, in the terminal area, on the airport roof," which represent an investment of "around €20 million", he added.
ANA's CEO also pointed out that in Madeira, the company is investing "over €50 million" in the "new Porto Santo terminal".
In the Azores, the ANA CEO emphasised, without specifying the amount invested, that the company is "currently working on the terminals at Ponta Delgada and Horta".
And within the scope of planned investments in national airport infrastructures, Lisbon airport is no exception either, according to Ligonnière, who complained, however, of some difficulties in this process.
The company will "naturally" carry out work in Lisbon, "if we can move forward with the investments, if we can effectively get the necessary licences to be able to move forward with these investments", he stressed, pointing out that there is "some debate at the moment on this matter", which "is known" and "is in the media".
"But we have our teams working, we have the projects ready, we have a magnificent project to expand Terminal 1, to create a new car parking area, and also to expand Terminal 2," he said.
In addition, there are still works planned that "are normally invisible to the general public, but which contribute" to the airport's functioning and operation.
In his speech, Ligonnière also indicated that this year would be marked by "new records" for air traffic at airports in Portugal.
"We're approaching or surpassing some symbolic traffic thresholds," such as “35 million passengers in Lisbon, 15 million in Porto, almost 10 million in Faro, four million in Madeira” and getting “closer to three million, now more and more, in Ponta Delgada,” he said.
Passenger numbers that "say something", according to ANA's CEO, emphasising that the country has also made strides in terms of air connectivity: "It was a fantastic year [2024] once again, 67 additional routes, including 40 new destinations".
The Portugal Air Summit is taking place until Saturday at the Ponte de Sor Municipal Aerodrome, under the theme "Flying 4 Change".
The event is organised by the Ponte de Sor City Council, in partnership with the Ponte de Sor Commercial and Industrial Association (ACIPS) and aims to serve as a "debate and innovation forum" for the sector, bringing together experts, decision-makers and enthusiasts in this area.
RRL/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
