Hugo Espírito Santo addressed the issue in Macau after the chairman of the board of directors of ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, José Luís Arnaut, admitted wanting to bring the deadline forward, but still reminded that 2037 is what is defined in the initial proposal, "as a safety valve".

"The 2037 deadline is the sole responsibility of José Luís Arnaut [president of ANA]. Our timing is 2034-2035. We are having this discussion. José Luís Arnaut has already calculated all the deadlines, but if ANA [the airport authority] gets ahead of schedule, we would be deeply grateful and it would be a sign that ANA is deeply committed to this partnership with the Portuguese State," stated Hugo Espírito Santo.

The government official and chairman of the national airport management company were speaking at the 50th National Congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel and Tourism Agencies (APAVT) in Macau.

"Therefore, nothing prevents them from accelerating the deadline, and we, on our side, will do everything we can. But, therefore, 2035," emphasized the official, responding to a question from the president of APAVT, Pedro Costa Ferreira, who wanted to know if it was possible to project all the accessibility and infrastructure works "at the same time until 2037, so that the airport can be completed." Previously, the ANA representative had emphasised that the process is lengthy, noting that there are a number of legal requirements, procedures, and European and national legislation before entering the construction phase.

“My shareholder's position and my position as chairman is ‘it's decided [Alcochete], we will anticipate, we will accelerate, and we will have Alcochete operational as quickly as possible.’ Because that is in the country's interest,” said José Luís Arnaut.

Pressed several times by the president of APAVT to define a probable date, the chairman of ANA said he did not want to commit.

“Strong will”

However, he added that “there is a very strong will,” especially since ANA's interest “is the same as the Government's and the tourism sector's,” to “try to shorten as much as possible the steps that can be shortened (…) in order to start the work as quickly as possible.”

José Luís Arnaut reminded that what is at stake is a future airport that will be five times the size of Humberto Delgado Airport.

“Our wish is that it be before [2036]. But let's see the final project, let's see what the construction companies will do (…) I would like it to be in 2035, but let's see… in 2035, 2036. (…) We are talking about the idyllic scenario,” he reinforced.

“The deadline in our proposal is until 2037 – for a simple reason, because it was necessary to have some safety valves here – but we are working with the Government to reduce the deadlines,” namely works that can proceed without having to wait for others, he explained.

“This coordination is being done for the national interest, which is common,” assured José Luís Arnaut.

The 50th National Congress of APAVT, which runs until the 4th, has more than 1,000 delegates in Macau.