Lisbon, Aug. 1, 2025 (Lusa) - The Portuguese opposition Socialist Party (PS) questioned the Government on Friday about the "long queues" mainly at Lisbon and Faro airports, considering that they affect thousands of passengers and give a negative image of the country and would like to know what measures will be taken.
In a question, to which the Lusa news agency had access, addressed through parliament to the Minister of the Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, the Socialists said that "they have been following with deep concern the operational situation at Portuguese airports, particularly at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon and Faro Airport".
According to the PS, these airports continue to experience “serious constraints in border control”, which generates “long queues that affect thousands of passengers and project a highly negative image of Portugal abroad”.
“Unfortunately, what we are experiencing today at the main national airports is completely at odds with the image of modernity, efficiency and hospitality that the country has sought to build over decades, with the involvement of public and private actors, international promotion campaigns and heavy investment in the sector,” they criticise.
The PS parliamentary group points out that the government led by Luís Montenegro "has been in office for more than 16 months" and "has had more than enough time to carefully plan the implementation of the new airport entry control system".
"It has not done so. Even after the system was implemented, the government's response has been marked by improvisation, delays and inaction. The result is clear to see: long waits, angry passengers, penalised tour operators and a deeply damaged international image," they condemn.
The PS therefore wants Castro Almeida to explain to parliament how he justifies “the demonstrated inability to resolve the constraints at the country's main airports in a timely manner” and wants to know what causes have been identified.
“What is the government’s assessment of the impact of these severe operational constraints, particularly at Lisbon and Faro airports, on tourist activity and, above all, on Portugal’s image abroad as a tourist destination? Has any monitoring been carried out with the affected countries?” they ask.
The Socialists want the Government to announce what measures are planned to “mitigate the damage caused to the country’s image” and thus enable the confidence of international tourist markets to be restored.
“What concrete measures are planned or already underway to resolve the operational problems at Lisbon and Faro airports? And what is the Government’s deadline for their complete resolution?” they also want to know.
The PS adds in its question that, on 3 June, the Minister for Infrastructure “publicly announced that the problems would be resolved within two weeks” and that “after more than a month, there are still reports of significant delays”.
JF/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
