ANA says airport investment plans align with Portugal

ANA, Portugal’s airport operator, said it remains aligned with the Portuguese state on airport investment plans after Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said a new sovereign fund could intervene in strategic sectors, including airport infrastructure if concessionaires fail to meet their obligations.

In a written response, the ANA/Vinci concessionaire did not comment directly on the sovereign fund announcement but said it remains committed to “the development of the various investment projects and the connectivity of the national airports, in alignment with the Portuguese state”. It also said the new Lisbon airport project is moving forward “in strict compliance with the timetable defined with the state”.

Montenegro said at the closing speech of the PSD party congress that the future Sovereign Fund of Portugal would be “an instrument of autonomy and intervention of the state in strategic sectors”. He added that the fund could take equity stakes in areas such as energy, banking, communications and “even the management of airport infrastructure, if the concessionaires do not fulfil their obligations”.

ANA has until July 17 to submit the technical report for the new Lisbon airport, including the detailed construction plan, works schedule, subcontracting structure and estimated budget. In an initial report delivered to the government in December and published in January, the company estimated the cost of the new Luís de Camões airport at Alcochete at €8.5 billion, with €7 billion expected to be financed through debt issuance.

ANA has also proposed a gradual increase in Lisbon airport charges between 2026 and 2030 and a 30-year extension of the current concession to 2092, arguing that this would support repayment of the investment without public financial support. The operator expects the new Lisbon airport to open in mid-2037, or by the end of 2036 if timetable optimisations are agreed with the government.

Originally published at Eco.pt