Portugal extends airport handling licences by up to two years

Portugal’s government has approved a temporary measure allowing current ground-handling licences at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports to be extended by up to two years, in a move aimed at avoiding disruption while a delayed tender for new operators is completed.

According to the statement issued after Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, the measure will allow the “exceptional extension” of existing handling licences until the award process and transition to new providers are finished. The licences, which would otherwise expire on October 25, can be prolonged for up to two years, with the exact period to be set by order of the Infrastructure Ministry.

This is the fourth extension since March 2025, reflecting repeated delays in the tender for new airport handling licences. The competition was launched by Portugal’s civil aviation authority in October 2024, and initially selected SPdH/Menzies Aviation and the Spanish consortium Clece/South.

The Spanish consortium, which had ranked first, was excluded in July after failing to demonstrate compliance with the required technical and procedural conditions, including proof that it could mobilise the necessary resources. The regulator then called on Menzies to submit its qualification documents, a process that is still under way.

The government said the measure would ensure operational stability for passengers, airlines and other sector participants without affecting the conclusion of the ongoing tender.

Originally published at Eco.pt