Vinci's Proposal for Alcochete Airport
Vinci, the operator of Portuguese airports until 2062, is proposing an extension of its contract by 25 years, pushing the end date to 2087. This extension is a prerequisite for assuming the risk of constructing a new airport on the site of the current Campo de Tiro de Alcochete. While other conditions may arise, the high-level report presented today to the government will not be officially disclosed for the next 30 days, during which the government will decide whether to accept the proposal.
Legal Framework for Contract Extensions
The extension of the contract period is in line with the Public Contracts Code, which emphasizes that the duration should be determined based on the time required for the concessionaire to recoup and earn a return on their investment under normal profitability conditions.
European Commission Authorization and Precedents
A European Commission authorization may be necessary, but there are precedents, such as Greece extending the concession of the Athens airport by 20 years. The Technical Independent Committee (CTI) projected a similar timeframe to ensure investment profitability, led by Fernando Alexandre, who was later appointed Minister of Education.
Recent Developments in Port Concessions
Just a month ago, on November 11, the government paved the way for this solution by extending public service port concessions from 30 to 75 years through Decree-Law 92/2024, aimed at compensating for the necessary modernization investments.
A Major Investment in Aviation
The new airport in Alcochete would be the largest ever built solely with private funding, as promised by the Minister of Infrastructure, Miguel Pinto Luz. Therefore, the private partner will likely demand the maximum allowable under current legislation.
Delays in Airport Opening
The timeline for the airport's inauguration has already been pushed back. It will not open in 2030 as the CTI envisioned, nor in 2034 as the government had hoped. The new proposed date is 2037, contingent on various factors such as labor shortages and legal disputes over environmental issues or land expropriations.
Relocation of Military Facilities
If the project proceeds, the Campo de Tiro de Alcochete will be relocated to Mértola, a decision expected to be confirmed in January. Additionally, military aircraft currently at Figo Maduro in Portela will move to the Montijo runway. This solution was deemed the most cost-effective for civil aviation but was rejected due to environmental concerns and the inability to meet Lisbon's projected air traffic demand, which the CTI estimates could double or triple by 2050, rising from 33 million to 108 million passengers.
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