Lisbon, Aug. 8, 2025 (Lusa) - Portugal's National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) is preparing the necessary actions to implement noise mitigation measures for night flights at Lisbon airport, but European legislation imposes "stringent" requirements that may extend the deadline.
When questioned by Lusa about the current situation, an official source from the regulator clarified that "with regard to Cabinet Resolution No. 58/2025, which mandates ANAC to implement measures to mitigate noise generated by night flights at Humberto Delgado Airport, in strict compliance with all European legislation and directives in force, and to implement the measures restricting night flights recommended by the Night Flight Working Group, it is stated that ANAC is preparing the various measures necessary for this implementation".
The same source added that, however, "it is important to take into account that European legislation in this specific area sets out a series of demanding requirements, which mean that the implementation deadline will be extended", he explained, without giving any dates.
An official source at NAV Portugal, also contacted by Lusa, recalled that "under the terms of the respective Cabinet Resolution, responsibility for implementing the operational restrictions lies with ANAC, as the regulatory authority".
In this regard, NAV Portugal, which controls air traffic, assures that it has been actively collaborating with ANAC.
“This is a process that requires a high degree of technical rigour and close coordination between different civil aviation entities, and NAV Portugal is fully committed to contributing to a solution that safeguards the public interest, operational safety and the well-being of the public,” it added.
In November 2024, the minister of infrastructure of the previous and current government, Miguel Pinto Luz, announced the immediate implementation of a total ban (“hard curfew”) on flights between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., as recommended by a working group that analysed the issue and delivered its final report in July 2022.
In March this year, even before the legislative elections, the Cabinet instructed ANAC to implement restrictions on night-time operations, including limitations on noisier aircraft between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., the imposition of a period without slots [time slots for landing and take-off] between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., and new aeronautical procedures to reduce noise.
On 2 July, when questioned by Lusa about the situation, Miguel Pinto Luz said that “the political decision by the Government and ANAC has been taken and is to be implemented, [but] it will take some time to be implemented”, he said.
The implementation of the new rules “needs regulation, needs to be discussed with air traffic control”, said the minister, stressing that “ANAC is taking all the necessary steps, together with NAV, to ensure that this can be done”.
At the same time, ANAC has intensified its monitoring and the imposition of fines on airlines operating outside the permitted schedules.
The number of cases brought has been increasing, from 202 in 2023 to 208 in 2024, with fines rising from €266,200 to €8.7 million in the same period.
In the first half of 2025, 51 proceedings were initiated, with fines already totalling around €1.98 million, according to preliminary data provided to Lusa. The total amount of fines may decrease, as not all cases have been finally decided and are still subject to judicial appeal by the convicted carriers.
The flights in question are those landing or taking off between midnight and 6 a.m., exceeding the daily or weekly limits established by the orders, which impose restrictions on night-time air traffic due to noise issues.
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