The Portuguese government announced Thursday that night flights from Humberto Delgado Airport in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, will be banned following the findings of a task force on aircraft noise and pollution.
The Portuguese Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, has explained that the working group on night flights in Lisbon “has concluded” and confirmed restrictions between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. (local time), according to statements reported by the Lusa news agency.
Pinto, who considered this to be a “gigantic step”, has recalled the criticisms of city councils and citizens regarding the noise and pollution caused by the airport. This week, dozens of residents of the neighborhoods affected by the airport demonstrated near the airport to demand, among other things, the right to rest.
The demonstrators demanded an end to night flights, the non-expansion and closure of the airport, and the urgent construction of the new airport on the outskirts of the city, as well as a new green lung. In September, the Lisbon City Council unanimously approved a motion to reduce the number of movements per hour at Humberto Delgado and to reject any increase in airport capacity.