Tourism news in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal

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.

The Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) will open its doors to the public every Saturday starting at the end of October. President of the Assembly of the Republic José Pedro Aguiar-Branco announced the measure during the October 5th Republic Day commemorations to bring citizens closer to democratic institutions. Aguiar-Branco also suggested limiting the number of simultaneous parliamentary inquiry committees to two.

Update: Chega Opposes Limits on Simultaneous Parliamentary Inquiries

Chega strongly rejected José Pedro Aguiar-Branco's proposal to cap simultaneous parliamentary inquiries at two, with party leader André Ventura demanding an immediate inquiry into Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves. Aguiar-Branco maintained that limiting inquiries ensures adequate participation from smaller parties while ongoing investigations into the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) and forest fires wrap up. Ventura argued the proposal shields the government and delays scrutiny of Neves' past tenure heading the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ).

A strike by EasyJet cabin crew has led to the cancellation of approximately 80% of the airline's scheduled flights. The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC) reports that 443 flights were canceled, while accusing the company of failing to comply with labor laws regarding wages and scheduling stability.

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.

The government has requested further information from ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal regarding the expansion strategy for the New Lisbon Airport (Novo Aeroporto de Lisboa or NAL). Officials are seeking justification for the current terminal configuration and are pushing to accelerate the project's timeline, which is currently scheduled for completion in 2037.

The Lisbon Metropolitan Council has approved new public transport tickets aimed at visitors and event attendees. The new Navegante passes will cost 15 euros for one day or 37.50 euros for five days, though a start date for sales has not yet been announced.

The river transport company Transtejo Soflusa (TTSL) has proposed increasing the price of occasional tickets on the route between Cais do Sodré and Cacilhas. Chairman Rui Rei stated that over 90% of these tickets are used by tourists and argued that the sector should contribute more to financing public services.

Three men have turned themselves in to the Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária or PJ) following an investigation into a shooting incident on Rua Augusta last August. The event, which left a Swedish tourist injured by a stray bullet, occurred during a dispute between groups involved in the illicit sale of substances. Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas has expressed alarm over the city's safety, calling for support from moderate political forces to address rising security concerns.

The Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) recorded 67 infractions during a crackdown on taxi operations at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon. Officers identified issues including tampered taximeters, overcharging, and drivers lacking proper authorization. The operation follows numerous public complaints regarding scams targeting tourists at the airport arrivals area.

Easyjet's country manager, José Lopes, has expressed concern regarding potential travel disruptions at Humberto Delgado Airport this summer. The airline anticipates difficulties linked to the passenger control system and has called for common sense in the day-to-day management by the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP).

Luxair has postponed flights to and from Lisbon and Porto originally scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, due to the nationwide general strike in Portugal. The airline confirmed that while these major hubs are affected, flights to Funchal and Faro are expected to proceed as planned. Passengers are advised to check their flight status as the industrial action impacts aviation and ground handling services across the country.

A coordinated general strike called by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3, with disruptions expected to begin as early as Tuesday. The industrial action will affect national airspace, railway operations, and urban public transport, with authorities advising passengers to check flight statuses before heading to airports.

Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz acknowledged that long border control queues at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports are damaging Portugal's international image. Passenger numbers have risen by nearly 70% over the last decade, yet infrastructure and staffing levels have not kept pace, leading to significant delays for travelers arriving from outside the Schengen Area.

Infrastructure limitations at Lisbon airport (Aeroporto de Lisboa) have resulted in 12% of requested flight slots for the summer season going unfulfilled. The National Air Navigation (Navegação Aérea de Portugal or NAV) warned that these capacity constraints are penalizing the tourism sector. Travelers should note that the lack of slots may limit flight options and keep ticket prices high during the peak season.