Residents of Lisbon and Loures gathered at Lisbon Airport to protest against noise and pollution, demanding their right to rest. Organized by the platform “Aeroporto fora, Lisboa melhora,” the protest highlighted the adverse effects of airport operations on local communities, particularly the expansion plans for Humberto Delgado Airport.
On Wednesday evening, around thirty residents from neighborhoods such as Areeiro, Alvalade, and Campo de Ourique gathered near the airport’s metro station. They expressed their frustrations through placards and chants, calling for immediate action from authorities regarding the noise and pollution caused by the airport.
The protestors are demanding several key actions, including the end of night flights, Residents called for a halt to flights during nighttime hours, which they believe violate existing regulations, a halt to airport expansion urged authorities to reconsider the expansion plans, arguing that the airport should be relocated to a new site outside the city and the creation of green areas in the city to counteract the environmental impact of the airport.
The protest garnered support from local politicians, including members of the PCP and Pessoas-Animais-Natureza parties. In September, the Lisbon City Council unanimously approved a motion to reduce airport movements and oppose any increase in airport capacity, reflecting growing political awareness of the residents’ plight.