Latest news and stories about airport operations in Portugal for expats and residents.
At issue are potential constraints on the island's air operations due to the unavailability of firefighters to provide overtime service.
The International Air Transport Association points to infrastructure constraints in the Portuguese capital as the main threat to the country's operations during the peak season.
Hassan El-Houry, chairman of Menzies Aviation, the British company that holds the majority of the capital of the former Groundforce, is confident that it will secure the new licences at Portuguese airports and is eyeing new business opportunities. The conflict in the Middle East is already having a financial impact. The Spanish consortium composed of Clece...
Hassan El-Houry, chairman of Menzies Aviation, the British company that is the majority shareholder of the former Groundforce, states that constraints at the airport affect ground handling operations and give a bad image of the country to visitors. “Portugal is a tourist country and the airport and TAP are the first and last...
TAP announced this month an agreement to sell the 49.9% stake it holds in the former Groundforce to the owner of the remaining 50.1%, the British company Menzies Aviation. The price was not disclosed, but the chairman of the company, which operates in 347 airports worldwide, explains that the value will take into account the result of the...
Restrictions on refueling civil aircraft on Terceira Island, in effect since Saturday, have been lifted. The Azores government has requested explanations from Galp.
In his first interview with Expresso since taking office, Carlos Oliveira, chairman of the board of directors of TAP Air Portugal, discusses the company's challenges and the future of the airline.
A failure in fuel quality tests will not impact operations for airlines SATA and TAP at the Lages terminal in the Azores.
On Sunday, the director of Lajes Airport, Vítor Pereira, revealed to Lusa that the fuel that arrived in Terceira to supply the civil air operation “did not meet the quality and safety tests that Galp has for its product.”
If necessary, civil aircraft facing jet fuel supply issues at Lajes may use Horta and Santa Maria airports, which will have extended operating hours.
Due to fuel contamination, it was also announced that medical emergency services should prioritise Ponta Delgada airport. Also in this edition, Otamendi is leaving SL Benfica.
The company “welcomes the decision of the Portuguese Government”.
Menzies welcomes the extension of ground handling licences at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports until 25 October 2026, noting that it provides operational stability for the peak summer season. However, the company highlights that this decision follows a long period of uncertainty which created additional planning challenges for the high season. Despite this, Menzies reaffirms its commitment to providing safe and reliable services. Meanwhile, the Sitava union claims the extension will destabilise airports during the summer.
The government is extending Menzies' handling licences to 'allow time for the litigation regarding the tender for new licences to be resolved'. The law will be reviewed to allow for more time.
The ANAC has lifted the limitations on the Horta airport runway following a meeting with ANA and other parties. Since Monday, flights from Lisbon had been diverted to Pico.
A prolonged interruption in the supply of kerosene (a petroleum derivative) would have direct effects on airport operations, connectivity, and the European economy, asserts the airport association ACI Europe.
This will be the second time the handling licences of the current service provider are extended. The decision comes while a precautionary measure from Menzies is pending, challenging the tender for licences to operate in Lisbon, Porto, and Faro, which was awarded to the Spanish company Clece/South.
Menzies has a licence to operate until 19 May, but due to the ongoing legal proceedings, this deadline will need to be extended. TAP is evaluating the possibility of performing its own handling.
An injunction against the regulator ANAC's decision to award the ground handling contract to South/Clece has resulted in an extension of the current Menzies/SPdh licence.
Home News EES is fully operational in Portugal EES is fully operational in Portugal The European border control system for non-EU citizens, suspended in December at Lisbon airport due to constraints in the arrivals area, is back in operation, having been gradually resumed, the government revealed
Air Force Two, the presidential Boeing, landed this Tuesday at Sá Carneiro Airport coming from Washington. The plane was parked on the main apron surrounded by several PSP vans and patrols before taking off after one in the afternoon heading to Macedonia.
The European border control system for non-EU citizens, which was suspended in December at Lisbon airport due to constraints in the arrivals area, is operational again and has been gradually resumed, the Government revealed today.
The European border control system for non-EU citizens, which was suspended in December at Lisbon airport due to constraints in the arrivals area, is operational again and has been gradually resumed, the Government revealed this Friday. In a response sent to the Lusa agency, the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) states that the European system...
By 5:00 PM, six flights had been diverted to other airports.
The National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) rejects the criticisms made by Menzies (SPdH) regarding the process of the tender for new ground handling licences at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports, ensuring that it complied with the legal framework. The regulator confirms the submission of documentation by the selected consortium, which brings together Clece and...
TAP may move to self-handling if the Spanish consortium Clece/South remains the winner of the international tender for ground handling licenses at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports. This assurance was given to workers of Menzies/SPdH, the current operator, which placed second in the tender managed by the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC). TAP is the main client for Menzies, and if the airline decides not to contract with the Spanish consortium, South's operation could be compromised due to a lack of staff, as TAP would likely absorb the majority of the existing workforce. Meanwhile, Menzies has filed an injunction in court to challenge the tender, and unions are threatening to contest the process, citing concerns over job security and the legality of the criteria set by the regulator.
Sitava, the Union of Aviation and Airport Workers, is considering legal action to challenge the airport handling tender won by the Clece/South consortium, aiming to protect workers' interests. The union criticises the lack of provisions for the transfer of staff and existing company agreements, labelling the process as ideologically driven and potentially damaging to airport operations. Meanwhile, Menzies has already filed an injunction in the Lisbon Administrative and Tax Court, citing concerns over the tender's structure, operational requirements, and the lack of a robust transition framework for employees.
The Clece/South consortium, winner of the tender for ground handling licences at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports, has submitted the required documentation to the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), completing another stage of the process to operate in Portugal, ECO learned from a source close to the matter. The regulator will now assess compliance.
The company states that it disagrees with the design of the tender process and the way it was conducted.
Menzies (SPdH) has filed an injunction with the Lisbon Administrative and Tax Court challenging the structure and conduct of the tender launched by the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) for ground handling licenses at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports. The company argues that the tender criteria fail to reflect the operational complexity and safety requirements of high-traffic airports, warning of potential service disruptions and risks to Portugal's tourism image due to the lack of a robust transition plan. Menzies, which currently holds the licenses until May, questions the operational viability of the winning consortium led by Iberia, citing concerns over staffing levels and equipment, and seeks to ensure that the final decision prioritizes operational resilience and international best practices.
