Lisbon Airport Could Ban Nighttime Flights – Here’s Why

Located close to residential areas, this dated airport is at the centre of ongoing complaints from nearby residents about aircraft noise and pollution, especially at night. There has supposedly been a cap of 92 weekly night flights, but campaign groups claim this is routinely ignored, with up to 160 flights actually landing or departing during those hours. Authorities are now planning a ‘hard curfew’ on flights between 1 and 5am, though it’s still unclear whether delayed flights will be exempt, which could mean noise continues during those times. There are talks of a €300 million refurbishment, but residents argue that instead of pouring money into upgrading the existing, outdated facilities, the entire airport should be moved further away from the city to reduce the impact on local communities. - Liv Kelly