Infrastructure news in Portugal

Cabin crew at Azores Airlines gave company management a 10-day deadline to resolve pending labor demands or face a three-day strike. The decision was approved during an extraordinary general meeting of the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil). The potential disruption comes as the regional carrier undergoes structural changes and attempts to settle disputed working conditions.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas labelled statements made by transport insurer Fidelidade “shameful” and “deplorable” in a dispute over compensation for a fatal Glória funicular (Elevador da Glória) derailment. Fidelidade denied that it is refusing payouts to victims and families, but defended court filings challenging a €125,000 wrongful death claim as excessive based on standard legal valuation criteria for human life. The insurer stated that it has already paid or assumed liability for initial expenses and remains open to settling fair compensation.

The Common Front (Frente Comum) of public administration unions announced a nationwide strike for 20 November to protest the proposed 2027 State Budget. Union coordinator Sebastião Santana said the stoppage serves as a warning to lawmakers before the final budget vote, arguing that government spending plans fail to address public wages and services. Meanwhile, the government declined to intervene in a separate rail strike scheduled for Friday, stating that negotiations remain the responsibility of state rail operator CP (Comboios de Portugal).

Porto has removed 300 shared electric scooters (trotinetes elétricas) from public streets since September as the municipality moves to replace part of the fleet with shared bicycles under an agreement with operators. The strategy differs from Lisbon, where city authorities approved a total suspension of shared e-scooters by the end of 2026. Scooter operator Bolt called for renewed negotiations with Lisbon officials, noting that local residents accounted for 78 percent of its trips in 2025.

Cabin crew for easyJet based in Portugal have filed a strike notice covering 19 to 23 December across airports in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro. The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC) announced the walkout in a dispute over working conditions. Minimum service orders will require a portion of scheduled flights to operate during the five-day pre-holiday period.

Portuguese energy firm Galp posted net profits of nearly 1.5 billion euros for the first nine months of the year, averaging 5.4 million euros daily. Earnings were driven by crude production in Brazil reaching 131,000 barrels per day amid strong international oil prices. The financial results coincide with industry survey data showing that foreign investment into Portugal's renewable energy sector remains relatively steady despite broader European declines.

Trade unions have called off partial strikes scheduled for 28 and 30 October on the Lisbon Metro (Metropolitano de Lisboa). The decision followed an order by the Arbitration Court (Tribunal Arbitral) of the Economic and Social Council (Conselho Económico e Social), which mandated minimum services guaranteeing 25 percent of train runs during peak morning hours. Union representatives said that complying with the order would compromise safety by deploying unqualified personnel, opting instead to cancel the industrial action.

Fidelidade, the insurer for Lisbon transport operator Carris, has contested a compensation claim stemming from the fatal Glória Funicular (Elevador da Glória) accident on 3 September 2025. In legal filings before the Lisbon Administrative Court, the insurer argued that the funicular could not be considered highly reliable at the time of the crash, which killed 16 people. The legal response comes in an action brought by the family of victim Ana Paula Lopes, whose lawyer criticized the insurer's characterization.

Menzies Aviation secured ground handling (assistência em escala) operating licenses for airports in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro, the National Civil Aviation Authority (Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil or ANAC) announced on Friday. The aviation regulator concluded its technical and financial assessment, confirming that Menzies subsidiary SPdH demonstrated the required operational capacity. The decision completes a public tender to select a ground handling provider for third parties across mainland Portugal's main transport hubs.

A revised tariff framework for passenger taxi services took effect on Friday, lowering initial flag drop rates (bandeirada) and introducing dynamic pricing based on trip duration and distance. Under rules published in the government gazette (Diário da República), fare increases are legally capped at a maximum of 9% during the first year of implementation. Taxi operators have been granted a transition window until mid-January 2027 to recalibrate their physical meters to the new price structure.

Private patient transport companies will stage a slow-moving protest across Lisbon's 25 de Abril Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril) on Monday, October 26, to protest operational conditions. The Portuguese Ambulance League announced that around 100 ambulances and service vehicles will cross the bridge before driving through central Lisbon. Commuters should prepare for major traffic disruptions during the morning rush hour on key routes linking Almada and Lisbon.

The Court of Auditors (Tribunal de Contas) publicly rejected claims by Lisbon Metro that the court caused a two-year delay in expanding the Red Line (Linha Vermelha) to Alcântara. The court clarified that Metro leadership submitted the required prior review request only in late July 2025, rather than two years ago. The expansion project currently remains on hold while awaiting a government resolution to authorize multi-year spending through 2028.

National rail operator Comboios de Portugal (CP) has warned of disruptions on 30 October due to a strike called by the Railway Union of Itinerant Commercial Review (Sindicato Ferroviário da Revisão Comercial Itinerante). The rail strike coincides with industrial action planned by Lisbon Metro (Metropolitano de Lisboa) workers for 28 and 30 October. CP stated that service impacts may extend to the days immediately before and after the strike date, offering refunds or ticket exchanges to affected passengers.

Lisbon City Council approved a proposal on Wednesday to suspend all shared electric scooters across the capital, giving operators 60 days to remove their vehicles. The initiative, introduced following mounting complaints over dangerous riding and blocked pedestrian walkways, passed with backing from Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas and his ruling coalition.

The Socialist Party (Partido Socialista), Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda), and Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português) abstained, while Livre and the Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal) voted against. Moedas argued the suspension is necessary to restore safety and clear public space while the city drafts a municipal regulation, pointing to similar bans in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels.

More than 60 National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica) ambulances are stuck in mechanical workshops without repair orders, according to the pre-hospital emergency technicians union (Sindicato dos Técnicos de Emergência Pré-Hospitalar or STEPH). STEPH warned that failing to repair these vehicles jeopardizes emergency healthcare operations. The union criticized suspected management plans to replace full ambulances with lighter passenger vehicles, stressing that a new ambulance costs upwards of €100,000.

The Minister of Infrastructure acknowledged regulatory risks from competition authorities regarding Lufthansa's planned acquisition of a stake in TAP Air Portugal. European regulators could require the airline to surrender airport take-off and landing slots on routes where competition would be reduced following the German carrier's entry. Meanwhile, the government plans to prepare an initial public offering for the 5% TAP stake reserved for employees by early 2027.

SDR Portugal, the consortium managing the Volta packaging deposit and refund system, submitted a plan to the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Ministério do Ambiente e Energia) to reduce strain on collection machines at supermarkets. The proposal seeks closer coordination among waste management entities, municipal cleaning services, and retailers to prevent bottlenecks. The initiative aims to manage high volumes of returned bottles and cans more efficiently across retail locations.

Banco CTT announced that its mobile application, homebanking service, and MB WAY transfers will remain offline through Sunday due to a scheduled systems upgrade. The outage, which began Friday, temporarily prevents customers from sending or receiving digital payments and accessing online accounts. The bank confirmed the disruption is necessary to complete planned technical improvements.

The Portuguese Nurses' Union Association (Associação Sindical Portuguesa dos Enfermeiros or ASPE) warned of persistent technical failures in Portugal's national vaccination platform. The union called on the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde or SPMS) to implement urgent fixes to resolve operational bottlenecks. Nurses noted that the technical issues are creating delays in administering and recording vaccines.

Update: Health Agency Acknowledges Constraints but Defends Vaccine Rollout

SPMS acknowledged technical constraints in the vaccination platform caused by heavy demand at the launch of the seasonal vaccination drive for flu and COVID-19. The agency stated that the glitches never put the national vaccination program at risk, following complaints raised by ASPE.

Labour unions representing Lisbon Metro (Metropolitano de Lisboa) workers issued strike notices for October 28 and 30, planning morning walkouts between 05:00 and 10:00. The industrial action stems from unaddressed disputes over working conditions and staffing at central operational command centers. The transport operator announced it will ask the Arbitration Court (Tribunal Arbitral) to mandate minimum service levels (serviços mínimos) to reduce disruption for morning commuters.

Passengers arriving at Lisbon Airport (Aeroporto Humberto Delgado) can now access fixed-rate taxi fares intended to eliminate tourist overcharging and illegal transport practices. The standardized pricing follows a protocol signed between transport authorities and industry associations to tackle repeated passenger complaints regarding altered meters and refusal to accept electronic payments. The fixed rates provide travelers with predictable pricing for trips from the airport terminal into central Lisbon.

The Portuguese government selected Germany's Lufthansa Group to acquire a minority stake in national airline TAP Air Portugal (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses). Under the privatization plan, Lufthansa will pay €1.2 billion for a 44.9% holding with an option to reach 49.9%, while the Portuguese state retains 50.1% of the shares with 5% reserved for airline workers. Lufthansa stated that the agreement will support TAP's expansion while safeguarding its brand identity and strategic flight routes to North and South America.

Update: Lufthansa to Pay Upfront Deposit for TAP Acquisition

Under the Council of Ministers' (Conselho de Ministros) resolution, Lufthansa must provide bank guarantees and pay an upfront deposit of 2.5%, amounting to up to €30 million, to the Portuguese state this year. Lufthansa Chief Executive Officer Carsten Spohr also confirmed plans to establish Lisbon as a primary European hub for flights to Brazil, routing transit traffic through the Portuguese capital instead of Frankfurt, Zurich, or Munich.

Update: German Union Criticizes Price as Diplomats Back Deal

German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit criticized Lufthansa for paying an exceptionally high price for TAP's minority stake, contrasting with Portuguese and German foreign ministers who praised the agreement as a geostrategic success. Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel said the partnership strengthens transatlantic connections, particularly to Latin America.

Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas announced plans to suspend and remove shared electric scooters from the capital, pointing to persistent safety complaints and cluttered pedestrian pavements. The proposal still requires formal approval by the Lisbon City Council (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa). While commercial scooter operators face an exit from the city, the municipal bike-sharing system Gira will remain in service and receive further fleet investments.

Update: Bolt Contests Ban as Operator Highlights Safety Record

Micro-mobility operator Bolt expressed regret over the lack of dialogue with municipal authorities, stating that only 0.5% of reported incidents in 2026 were serious. Bolt also pointed to police data showing that over half of fatal scooter accidents involved privately owned devices rather than commercial rental fleets.

Carris Metropolitana is expanding its bus fleet in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Área Metropolitana de Lisboa) with 37 new electric buses starting Friday. The vehicles represent an investment of €16 million, according to Lisbon Metropolitan Transport (Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa). The presentation took place at the Rodoviária de Lisboa facilities in Santa Iria de Azóia, in the municipality of Loures.

The Energy Services Regulatory Authority (Entidade Reguladora dos Serviços Energéticos or ERSE) proposed a 1.5% average rate increase for normal low-voltage electricity customers in mainland Portugal's regulated market. The adjustment takes effect in January 2027 and follows an earlier 2.7% rate hike introduced in October. Higher wholesale power prices driven by natural gas costs contributed to the increase, though savings from renewable energy contracts prevented steeper price jumps.

Taxis departing from the arrivals terminal at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport (Aeroporto Humberto Delgado) must now apply fixed fares ranging between €16 and €19 depending on the destination zone. The measure, agreed between the Lisbon City Council (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa) and national taxi associations, aims to curb overcharging and improper ride refusals. Full implementation of the airport system, including mandatory card payment terminals and vehicle accreditation, is scheduled for early November.

With the Lufthansa proposal to buy 49.9% of TAP for 1,201 million euros approved, the process still has a long and rocky road ahead until its conclusion, expected in early 2028. The most difficult obstacle will be the DG-Comp, but the Government, which will count on the collaboration of the Germans, has...

The government is set to announce the winning bidder for a minority stake of up to 49.9% in national airline TAP (Transportes Aéreos Portugueses), choosing between Germany's Lufthansa and Air France-KLM. Lufthansa is widely considered the favourite following an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers (Conselho de Ministros). The winning bidder will enter final negotiations before submitting the transaction for European regulatory approval.

Update: Government Selects Lufthansa for 49.9% Stake in TAP

The Portuguese government selected Germany's Lufthansa Group to acquire up to 49.9% of TAP for €1.201 billion, with the transaction expected to conclude by early 2028. Lufthansa will take responsibility for operational management while maintaining flight connections between Portugal and Brazil. The Civil Aviation Pilots' Union (Sindicato dos Pilotos da Aviação Civil or SPAC) welcomed the decision, while opposition parties cautioned against opening a path toward complete privatization.

Lisbon Metropolitan Transport (Transportes Metropolitanos de Lisboa or TML) launched the Navegante Planner (Planeador Navegante), a digital platform allowing passengers to plan trips across public transit networks in the metropolitan area. Officials also confirmed that work is underway to integrate transit ticketing between the Lisbon and Porto metropolitan regions.

Lisbon Metro (Metropolitano de Lisboa) announced all stations will close on Wednesday due to a 24-hour strike called by union organizations representing operations staff. Unions cited ongoing staff shortages, delayed training programs, and excessive reliance on overtime, while accusing management of failing to honor an agreement reached in April. Train service will halt from 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Update: Lisbon Metro Calls Wednesday Strike Disproportionate and Unjustified

Lisbon Metro management issued a statement describing the strike as disproportionate and inappropriate, stating that the full shutdown impacts around 600,000 commuters over demands made by approximately 100 workers. The company added that the union action disregards recent progress achieved during collective bargaining negotiations.

Construction started on Monday on the first section of the high-speed rail line connecting Porto-Campanhã to Oiã in the Aveiro district. Once finished, the route will cut rail travel time between Lisbon and Porto to one hour and 15 minutes. Minister of Infrastructure and Housing (Ministro das Infraestruturas e Habitação) Miguel Pinto Luz called high-speed rail one of the country's largest infrastructure investments of the century, with complete links to Vigo and Madrid planned by 2032 and 2034.

The Lisbon Metro and the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) signed an agreement guaranteeing continuous police presence across the underground network. The protocol formalizes the temporary police station at Laranjeiras operating since June. The accord also sets terms for the police unit to return to Marquês de Pombal once ongoing station renovations are finished.

The National Association of Parish Councils (Associação Nacional de Freguesias or Anafre) announced that parish councils across Portugal will shut down all services on 4 November unless their core demands are met in the 2027 State Budget (Orçamento do Estado). The association is demanding higher funding allocations, full-time employment status for parish leaders, and updated funding transfers. Anafre warned that failure to reach an agreement could lead to the permanent closure of central government counters run by parishes, including Citizen Spaces (Espaços Cidadão) and local social security desks.

Work on the first section of Portugal's high-speed rail line (Linha de Alta Velocidade) between Porto and Lisbon officially begins on Monday. The initial stretch links Porto-Campanhã to Oiã and includes a new road-rail bridge over the Douro River and an underground station at Vila Nova de Gaia-Santo Ovídio. Managed by Infraestruturas de Portugal, the complete line is planned to cut rail travel time between Lisbon and Porto to approximately one hour and 15 minutes.

The municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia rejected plans to build a high-speed train station in Santo Ovídio, demanding that authorities evaluate an alternative site in Mafamude and Vilar do Paraíso. Local officials warned that the current station project would cause prolonged disruption to the city. The municipality's formal objection comes days before the scheduled groundbreaking for the high-speed rail line.

A collision between a train and a passenger car at a level crossing in Vila Nova da Barquinha killed the car driver on Thursday night. Emergency operations involving around 30 responders and 13 vehicles briefly suspended rail services along the Beira Baixa Line (Linha da Beira Baixa). Civil Protection (Proteção Civil) confirmed that rail traffic resumed following the conclusion of recovery efforts.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel in Lisbon during the final stop of a European diplomatic tour. Rubio praised bilateral cooperation, including the use of Lajes Field (Base Aérea das Lajes) in the Azores, and discussed Portugal's planned purchase of F-35 fighter jets. The visit drew criticism from the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP), which staged street protests condemning government subservience to Washington.

Patients admitted with urgent yellow triage wristbands (pulseira amarela) faced emergency room wait times of up to 14 hours at Amadora-Sintra Hospital due to medical staffing shortages. More than 60 urgent patients were waiting for doctor consultations on Wednesday afternoon, far exceeding the recommended one-hour target. The delays also stranded volunteer firefighters (bombeiros voluntários), leaving ambulances held outside the facility for hours while waiting to transfer incoming patients.

Metropolitano de Lisboa will suspend subway service between Terreiro do Paço and Santa Apolónia starting in early November until 2028 to accommodate city drainage works. The Lisbon City Council (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa) approved an alternative surface transit plan relying on reinforced bus routes operated by Carris, rejecting proposals for a dedicated shuttle. The municipality will also pay €2.6 million in financial compensation to the metro operator during the construction period.

A five-day cabin crew strike at easyJet led to the cancellation of 370 flights in Portugal, according to the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC). Union president Ricardo Penarroias reported 100% staff participation at Portuguese bases, resulting in an overall cancellation rate of approximately 90%. easyJet grounded 343 flights prior to the walkout and cancelled 30 more while the strike was underway.

Fully electric passenger vehicles overtook hybrid sales for the first time in Portugal, capturing nearly half of all light passenger car registrations in September. Diesel sales dropped below 3% of the new car market as consumers continued shifting toward zero-emission options. Portugal now counts roughly 300,000 electric passenger vehicles on its roads.

A 28-year-old woman died and four others, including her husband and three minors, were seriously injured in a car accident on the A1 motorway in Condeixa-a-Nova this Sunday. The incident occurred at kilometer 180.4, prompting a response from the Coimbra Sub-regional Command of Civil Protection (Comando Sub-regional de Emergência e Proteção Civil de Coimbra). Traffic was restricted in the area as emergency services managed the scene.

Gulf Med Aviation Services, the company responsible for medical emergency air transport, has warned that rising fuel prices threaten the sustainability of its operations. The company is requesting inclusion in government public support schemes, noting that aviation fuel costs have risen by approximately 80% since July 2025.

A strike by cabin crew members has led to the cancellation of 80% of easyJet flights operating within Portugal. The walkout, organized by the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC), began on Friday and is scheduled to continue until Tuesday, affecting bases in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro.

The Assembly of the Republic has approved in principle a bill requiring the use of helmets for riders of electric scooters and e-bikes. The proposal, introduced by the PSD, also mandates the use of reflective gear during low-visibility conditions. The bill now heads to the committee stage, where details regarding enforcement and potential fines ranging from 30 to 300 euros will be further discussed.

The Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho or DGERT) has decreed minimum services for upcoming cabin crew strikes at easyJet. The industrial action is scheduled for October 2-6 and December 19-23, affecting flights from Lisbon, Porto, and Faro to various European and domestic destinations.

Two workers were buried following a trench collapse at a hotel construction site in Porto Covo, Sines, on Monday. Emergency services confirmed that one of the workers died in the incident, while rescue operations were launched immediately after the alert was raised at 16:29.

Update: Both workers confirmed dead in Porto Covo construction accident

Authorities have confirmed that both workers, aged 26 and 28, died in the trench collapse at the construction site. Both victims were foreign nationals working at the development project.

Minister of Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Pinto Luz stated that the total cost of the new Lisbon airport in Alcochete will not be known until the project is fully defined. While the government aims for completion by 2034, officials noted that financial reports are expected in 2027 and 2028.

A Delta Air Lines flight traveling from Barcelona to Boston made an emergency landing at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto on Sunday due to smoke in the cabin. The aircraft landed safely with 296 passengers on board, and 67 emergency personnel were deployed to the scene. Separately, a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Lisbon diverted to Lyon on Saturday after a passenger's power bank caught fire, though all 204 people on board landed without injury.

Update: Fourteen treated after Delta emergency landing in Porto

Following the emergency landing of the Delta Air Lines flight, 14 people received medical assistance for smoke inhalation. Four of these individuals, including one crew member, were transported to the São João Hospital for further care.