The recently privatised ANA, which holds the long-term contract to maintain and develop Portugal’s airports, has announced that it is to invest €65 million in 2014, 16.8% more than was spent in 2013. Lisbon will receive over half at €33.8 million.
Sources at ANA, now owned by the French ‘Vinci Group’ said that much of the money would be spent in operational areas to increase capacity at passenger check-in, baggage handling and security control areas.
Lisbon has soaked up most of the investment made to date by the French but the total sum this year actually is a drop of 2.6% compared to 2013 as much of the necessary work already has been completed.
Oporto’s Francisco Sá Carneiro airport will receive €8.6 million and Madeira and the islands will get €7.9 million for resurfacing the runways and upgrading facilities.
And so to Faro where a spend of €3.7 million is planned, down from €9 million spent in 2013.
Local ANA boss Francisco Pita commented "We already have started a new cycle of investments in the spirit of the new regulatory framework and to in response to what is required of us in terms of capacity and quality of service." "We have to keep investing if we want to continue to accommodate the anticipated growth in passengers and flights."
"This growth has to be paid for," said Pita, alluding to the furore over another increase in charges at Lisbon airport that on April 1 will suffer the third rise in recent months.
Portugal ANA director Ponce Leon took the opportunity of dismissing the criticism of ANA by the airline companies of the rates payable to ANA at Lisbon airport. In his view the increase in the amount charged has an impact of 'just a few cents for each passenger' and therefore is irrelevant to the total cost of their stay.
The increase in passengers to and from Portugal and islands is a predicted 4% this year but ANA clamis to be flexible should tourism take off.
