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Portugal's busiest gateway connecting Europe and the Atlantic.
Opened
1942
Location
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, known simply as Lisbon Airport, is the primary international airport of Portugal and one of the busiest in Southern Europe. Named after Portuguese aviation pioneer and opposition politician Humberto Delgado, it serves as the main hub for TAP Air Portugal and handles tens of millions of passengers annually.
Situated just a few kilometres north of Lisbon's city centre, the airport occupies an exceptionally central location compared to most major European airports. It handles a broad mix of short-haul European routes, transatlantic flights to the Americas, and connections to Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and Brazil.
Due to persistent capacity constraints and record passenger growth in recent years, Portuguese authorities have debated expansion plans, including the construction of a new airport at Montijo or an entirely new facility at Alcochete. These discussions have continued for years without a final resolution, keeping pressure on the existing airport infrastructure.
Terminals
The airport operates with a single main terminal building divided into two sections — Terminal 1 (the main international terminal) and Terminal 2 (a lower-cost facility primarily used by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair).
Getting to & from
The airport is connected to central Lisbon by Lisbon Metro's Red Line (Aeroporto station), with taxis, ride-hailing services, and public buses also providing access to the city.
Airlines here
TAP Air Portugal uses Lisbon as its primary hub, while easyJet, Ryanair, and numerous other European and intercontinental carriers also operate significant services here.
Notable facts
- ›Named after Humberto Delgado, a general and presidential candidate who opposed the Salazar dictatorship and was assassinated by the PIDE secret police in 1965.
- ›The airport handled a record approximately 31 million passengers in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic reduced traffic.
- ›Its proximity to the city centre — roughly 7 km from Lisbon's Praça do Comércio — makes it one of the most centrally located major airports in Europe.
- ›The Red Line metro connection to the airport opened in 2012, significantly improving public transport access.
- ›Capacity debates have led to long-running political controversy over whether to expand the existing site or build a new airport at an alternative location.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
