Ryanair’s ever-punchy CEO, Michael O'Leary, is man that likes to get things done fast, so it is understandable that he questions why the Portuguese State machine has taken so long to decide on the Montijo option when Lisbon’s existing airport is predicted to reach breaking point this summer.
"We are satisfied with the Montijo option, but we do not understand the reasons why there is such a delay in making a decision," said O’Leary, adding that "it is natural for Ryanair to fly to Montijo, even though it airport charges need to be more competitive than those currently practiced in Lisbon’s Portela airport."
It is clear that the State should have acted years ago to pick from the various options for a second airport for Lisbon.
This fiddling around leaves airports operator ANA managing a chaotic Lisbon airport during the summertime peak with no chance of a second airport until all the environmental impact assessments are done, road and rail transport is arranged and funding is in place i.e. years, not months.
ANA is on O’Leary’s long ‘list of people to criticise in the press’ stating that "They will increase Humberto Delgado Airport rates by 4%. Those ultimately harmed are the passengers. In Madrid, for example, rates are falling."
Despite rumours that Ryanair will refuse to operate at Montijo, Michael O'Leary stated that "if the rates are competitive, the airlines will use it."
"I'm afraid these are the conditions demanded by most airlines, and my fear is that ANA says: look, we had to spend €250 million on Montijo, so the rates will be the same as in Portela. If so, nobody will want to fly there," says O'Leary.
"It's just strange that this entire process takes four years. In six months, a terminal with a capacity to receive millions of passengers can be built."
Sensitive to the environmental effects that a commercial airport will have on the current birdlife, O'Leary has a novel solution, "Just get two shotguns and the problem of the birds is solved."
