The Portuguese Airlines Association (RENA), representing the country’s airlines, has strongly opposed ANA Aeroportos de Portugal’s plans to raise airport fees starting in 2026 significantly. The fee increase aims to pre-finance the development of new infrastructure at the proposed Campo de Tiro de Alcochete airport.

Under the current proposal, regulated rates at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport will rise by approximately 50% between 2026 and 2030. This sharp increase has sparked concerns among airlines and industry stakeholders about the broader financial implications, including the potential impact on the state’s future revenues from national airports.

Lisbon’s Airport Fee Rankings Under Scrutiny

Lisbon Airport has historically been one of Europe’s most cost-effective hubs. Data from ANA’s Initial Report on the new airport reveals that in 2019, Lisbon ranked as the second cheapest among 20 comparable European airports, trailing only Rome-Ciampino.

However, by 2024, its affordability had diminished significantly. The airport had climbed to the seventh-most expensive spot, overtaking major European hubs like Madrid, Barcelona, Stockholm, and Dublin. If ANA’s fee increase is implemented, projections suggest Lisbon will ascend further in the rankings, becoming Europe’s 11th-most expensive airport by 2030. This would place it ahead of renowned international airports such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Geneva, and Copenhagen.