Lisbon Portela Airport

Lisbon Portela Airport, also known as Lisbon Airport (IATA: LIS, ICAO: LPPT), is located 7 km (4.3 mi) north of Castle of São Jorge in the city of Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. In Portuguese, it is called Aeroporto de Lisboa, Aeroporto da Portela, or Aeroporto da Portela de Sacavém. It takes its name from the neighbouring parish (freguesia) of Portela, also known as Portela de Sacavém. There are current negotiations with Ryanair to install a hub at Lisbon airport in the Summer of 2011.

The airport is the main international gateway to Portugal and a major European hub. It is one of the largest airports in Southern Europe. The airport has two main runways, capable of accommodating large-size aircraft such as the Boeing 747. During World War II, as the neutral airport was open to both German and British airlines, it was a hub for smuggling people into, out of and all around Europe, as widely referenced in the classic Casablanca movie, whose plot revolved around an escape attempt to Lisbon airport. As such, it was heavily monitored by both Axis and Allied spies. In 2010, the airport handled 14,035,273 passengers and 93,871 tonnes of cargo. The airport is the main base-hub of TAP Portugal, and also for Easyjet [begins Winter 2011], SATA International, Portugália and White Airways. The airport is run by State-owned company ANA Aeroportos de Portugal.

airport was opened during the Second World War, although Portugal was neutral the airport was used by allied flights enroute to Gibraltar, North Africa and Cairo. At the end of the war the airport developed quickly and by 1946 was used by major airlines like Air France, British European Airways, Iberia, KLM, Sabena, Pan Am and Trans World Airlines and by 1954 the number of passengers had reached 100,000. A major upgrade was started in 1959 and completed in 1962 this included a new runway capable of taking the first generation jets, Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8. The first jet aircraft movement was an Air France Caravelle in 1960. In 1962 Runway 03/21 came into use, it was 3130m (10,270 ft) and would allow direct transatlantic flights. The first direct flight to New York was operated by a TWA Boeing 707 who also operated the first Boeing 747 service in 1970. When TAP ordered the 747, five large parking bays were built in 1972 and the terminal was enlarged. A major upgrade to the buildings and facilities was started in 1983 and the first air bridges were added in 1991.

TAP Portugal has its head office in Building 25. ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal has its head office in Building 120. When Portugália was an independent company its head office was in Building 70.

Accidents and incidents

20 August 1962: Panair do Brasil, a Douglas DC-8-33 registration PP-PDT flying from Rio de Janeiro - Galeão to Lisbon Portela Airport, overran the runway into the ocean during an aborted take-off at Rio de Janeiro. From the 105 passengers and crew aboard, 15 died.

24 August 2001: Air Transat Flight 236, an Airbus A330 registration C-GITS flying from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Lisbon Portela Airport ran out of fuel about 120 km (75 Miles) away from Lajes Field then the aircraft glided and landed safely at Lajes, All 306 passengers including crew members survived. Captain Robert Piché was praised by media and was celebrated as a hero.

It was one of the world's largest aircraft gliding.