On Friday, the Portuguese government requested the Portuguese airports operator, ANA, owned by France's Vinci, to put forward a formal proposal for the construction and operation of a new international airport in the Lisbon district without cost to the state.
In May, the government approved the building of the new airport in Alcochete, situated across the River Tagus from Lisbon. The project is expected to cost up to 9 billion euros ($9.28 billion) and commence operations by 2034.
The tourism industry has been increasingly frustrated due to Lisbon's current airport operating at full capacity, catering to a growing number of foreign visitors to Portugal.
The proposed airport is part of the concession area of Lisbon's congested airport, one of ten main terminals in Portugal managed by ANA since 2012, with concessions set to continue until 2062.
The Ministry of Infrastructure stated that the preliminary report submitted by ANA in December did not anticipate any financial contribution from the state budget, aligning with the government's strategy.
According to the ministry, ANA is now required to submit its plans within 36 months for the proposed airport which will initially feature two four-kilometer-long (2.49-mile) runways capable of accommodating all aircraft types, with provisions for additional runways in the future.
The government is receptive to revising the airport's specifications and intends to engage in discussions about the financing model and risk-sharing with ANA.