Ryanair will reinforce its operation in Portugal this winter with four new routes from Porto, Faro and Funchal. Lisbon is out of the company’s plans, a decision that the executive president, Michael O’leary, justifies with the lack of ‘slots’, although Ana – Airports of Portugal ensures that the capital has already reached the limit of capacity.
According to the Irish carrier, quoted by News to Minuto, Porto will have new calls to Gothenburg, Sweden, and Warsaw, Poland. Faro will feature direct flights to Krakow, also in Poland, while Madeira has a regular connection to Shannon in Ireland.
Lisbon without space to grow
Despite the reinforcement in other cities, the absence of Lisbon deserved prominence in the announcement. Michael O’leary insisted that Portela Airport could receive more traffic if TAP’s ‘slots’ were redistributed.
The manager classified the situation, according to the same source, as an artificial restriction that protects the Portuguese carrier from competition.
Montijo as an immediate solution
The official also again criticized the government decision to build the new airport in the Alcochete Shooting Field, which is expected only to 2035.
According to news to the Minute, Montijo would be a faster alternative, capable of operating in just two years, responding to the growing demand of the capital.
Criticism of the privatization of TAP
Regarding the future of TAP, O’leary reaffirmed that the sale should cover 100% of the capital, noting that other European companies were completely privatized.
The government, however, approved in May the sale of up to 49.9%, of which 5% are reserved for workers, as determined by the privatization law.
Operation Problems in Lisbon
Ryanair’s CEO, quoted by, also pointed out the lack of human resources in border control and the fact that the electronic doors were disconnected at Lisbon airport, factors that, according to his own, aggravate queues and “inadmissible” delays.
Expansion outside the capital
While the debate around the new infrastructure continues, Ryanair bets on strengthening operations in Porto, Faro and Funchal. The four new routes already confirmed begin to work next winter and promise to diversify the travel options from Portugal.
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