Sectorial Reports

Airports

New Airport to be built at Alcochette

Main players

• ANA SA
• Airlines

Handling Service

Operating companies

• Portway
• Servisair
• TRIAM - Madeira Handing Services
• Groundforce
• Air Luxor
• SATA

Main airports in Portugal
Other airports

• Cascais Municipal Aerodrome
• Beja Airport

Useful contacts in the sector

• Sustain a modern and competitive air transport sector, pledging the high security patterns, respecting the environment and the passengers rights and qualifying Portugal as a major platform of international air traffic;
• Recover the new airport project, redefining the calendar according with the expected traffic and the EU funds availability for the project;
• Conclude the actual development phase Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto;
• Establish a contingency programme for the Lisbon Airport and define interventions in the regional airports;
• Re-evaluate the studies, the technical and financial solutions for the new airport in Ota;
• Promote the connections and interfaces with the terrestrial transports;
• Implement a quality system for the services rendered at the airports;
• Install automatic luggage verification  systems;
• Reinforce and increase fast connections between flights, supporting the transfer traffics;
• Consolidate the regulation, inspection and control role of the aviation sector;
• Modernise the legal framework in terms of air security and civil aviation;
• Reinforce the operational security of the aeronautical activities, transport of goods and passengers;
• Support the training projects and innovative technologies application in the air navigation sector;
• Implement the radar service in several regions;
• Continue the restructuring and viability of the TAP Group, granting its sustainability and competitiveness conditions in the international market.

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Lisbon airport

Therefore, and until a new airport is built in Lisbon, ANA will continue to maximise capacity at Portela Airport. To this effect, an investment programme is currently under way which will increase capacity to its maximum. The investment forecast for the period between 2004/2007 is €170m for development and enlargement projects alone, plus another €15m for associated projects.
ANA’s dedication and concern with modernising its infrastructure is also highly visible at Faro Airport in the Algarve, the main tourist region in the South of Portugal. The investment plan for this airport, which included a new, modern terminal for 8m passengers/year built in 2001, is in its final stages and will be concluded next year. ANA aims to make Faro the best tourist airport in the Iberian Peninsula.

Porto Airport

An ambitious development plan, initiated in 2000, is under way at Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport in Porto, where ANA hopes to provide a reference infrastructure for the North of Portugal. A large majority of this programme will be completed in 2005, at which time the airport will initially have the capacity to process 6m passengers per year, with the possibility of future expansion to 12m a year. Between 2004 and 2005, ANA will invest an overall total of €218m in this airport, equipping it with the means necessary for its fundamental role as the main international link serving the entire North-East of the Peninsula.

Ponta Delgada Airport

In terms of traffic, João Paulo II Airport (Ponta Delgada) is the fourth largest infrastructure managed by ANA and the most important in the Azores. In 1995, the airport built a completely new terminal, with a capacity for 800 thousand passengers per year. Since then, investment has concentrated on two distinct areas: improved operating conditions and more adequate processing capacity and comfort levels in the passenger terminal.

Drawing on its experience and know-how, of the past 25 years, ANA created ANA Consulting, a business unit that provides expert consultancy services in the airport business. Its core skills and services cover five large areas: airport infrastructure projects and master planning; organisational development; training; airport strategy and marketing aviation; non-aviation business development.
Conscious of its social responsibilities, ANA is committed to minimising the impact of its growth on the environment and on the communities surrounding its airports. Its scope of action includes efficient use of energy and water on its premises, greater control over emissions possibly harmful to the air and soil, promoting residue reduction and recycling and monitoring noise.
In terms of quality, ANA was the first services company in Portugal to implement a quality system (1980s). Quality management systems have been certified at 5 of its 7 airports (Faro, Ponta Delgada, Horta, Santa Maria and Flores). Lisbon and Porto Airports are scheduled for certification toward the end of 2006.
ANA aims to be a reference airport management company in terms of quality, profitability and ability to seize new business. Its entire action is geared toward high-value customer service, safeguarding shareholder interests as a long-term investor and presenting a group of professional excellence to its employees.

• TAP - Air Portugal is the country’s "flagship" airline and has scheduled flights to more than 50 international destinations and domestic flights between Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores, and also between Madeira and Porto Santo.
• PORTUGÁLIA has regular domestic flights and various flights to foreign destinations.
• SATA has regular flights between all the islands of the Azores and from the Azores to Madeira and mainland Portugal. SATA also offers regular flights to a number of international destinations.
• ATA - Aerocondor Transportes Aéreos operates regular domestic flights and international charters.
• AIR LUXOR flies to domestic and international destinations and is also a charter airline.

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As the first handling company licensed to provide services to Air Carriers in Portugal, Portway started its activity on 1 July 2000. This handling company is a joint-venture owned and managed by two shareholders – the airport management company in Portugal: ANA, Aeroportos de Portugal, S.A. (60%), and the Frankfurt airport management and handling company: FRAPORT (40%). The experience and know-how of both shareholders have been crucial in ensuring the company’s successful growth and development.

Handling operators in general are responsible at the airport for everything that is involved in passenger services; baggage handling services; ramp services and load control for aircraft, as well as handling cargo together with all its respective items: loading/unloading, storage and documentation. Other services are also provided, such as refuelling, cabin cleaning and ticket sales.

Portway operates at the three largest Portuguese Airports (Lisbon, Porto and Faro), with more than 600 employees, all highly qualified and receiving regular in-service and external training. It has its own equipment maintenance services, as well as the latest equipment and computer systems at all three airports.

In 2004, Portway handled roughly 11,000 flights (passengers and cargo), having also handled 1.7 million passengers and roughly 55,000 tons of cargo. Over 60 airlines trust in Portway’s ground handling services.

The increasing success of Portuguese airports is demonstrated by the ever greater number of airlines flying to and from Portugal and the wider variety of destinations now offered. Portway’s contribution towards this success is reflected in its increasing share of the business thus generated, confirming again that Portway provides a professional answer to all possible ground handling needs in Portugal.

The company’s vision of the future is to provide a quality service based on the principle of continuous training and improvement, whilst being aware of all new developments, not limiting itself to simply providing services, but also showing the flexibility and adaptability that airports, airlines and passengers require. The TÜV-Austria recognised Portway’s quality services with the award of the DIN ISO 9001:2000 standard for all segments of operations and commercial activity.

Services

• Portway’s handling services include:
• Passenger and Baggage Check-In using computerised Check-in Systems;
• Boarding;
• Escorting Passengers on Arrival;
• VIP Services;
• Special Services for Unaccompanied Minors and Wheelchair Passengers;
• Lost & Found Baggage Services and Excess Baggage Handling;
• Prompt and safe Ramp Services with all the necessary equipment. These include Passenger and Crew Transportation; Aircraft Loading and Unloading; Ramp to Flight Deck Communication; Aircraft Moving (Push Back/Towing); Cabin Cleaning (sub-contracted); Lavatory and Water Servicing, as well as Aircraft Engine Starting.

Other services include:

• Portuguese airports Cargo and Mail-Services and Warehouse Operations, including Lifts for Loading and Unloading; X-Ray Scanning; Coolers; Safe Storage for Valuable Cargo; Weight-Bridge; CCTV&DVR Systems; as well as Security Personnel (sub-contracted);
• The Load Control, Operations and Communication Services are again a good example of the company’s focus on quality and safety. These include Pre-Service Preparations; In-Service Control and Coordination and Post Flight Communications;
• Representation, Administration, Supervision and Support Services are concerned, Portway invests in experience, sophisticated management systems and highly trained staff to guarantee that airlines are always represented to their full satisfaction, offering Passenger Escorting Services; Passenger and Crew Transportation; Car and Limousine Rental (sub-contracted); Accommodation in Contracted Hotels for Crew and Passengers; Traffic, Transit and Landing Permits; Surface Transport; Catering Services (sub-contracted); Office and Storage Space; Load Device Storage and Control;
• The Aircraft Security Services that Portway renders include Travel Documentation Verification; Passenger Profiling; X-Ray screening of baggage and cargo; Baggage Reconciliation and Monitoring all personnel, vehicles, equipment and goods employed in the servicing of aircraft.

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SERVISAIR is EUROPE'S largest independent group handling company, its network now covers over 70 airports in 10 different countries - U.K., Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Recently, SERVISAIR has made the leap across the North Atlantic, with the acquisition of two United States ground handling businesses ( Cleveland - based Global Group and Dallas Fort / Worth - based Tri - Star Airlines Services) bringing the actual Servisair's network to 92 airports in total.

Services

Servisair/GlobeGround fulfils a huge range of aviation services at 150 locations around the world.
The main services are the following:

• Aircraft Cleaning
• Airport Representation
• Ground Transportation
• De-Icing
• GSE Maintenance
• Intoplane Fuelling
• Airport Security
• Line Maintenance
• Load Control
• Passenger Service
• Ramp Service
• Lounges
• Snow Removal
• Trucking
• Cargo
• Facility Management

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TRIAM, a major aircraft handling player at Madeira and Porto Santo airports, is developing along 2005 a new project that includes the certification of the Company in accordance with the ISO 9001 quality standards, renew of the ground support equipment and an intensive ground crew training program.
This represents a significant investment of the Group Holding Company in TRIAM, and our goal is to provide the best possible service to our present and future customer airlines.

TRIAM - Madeira Handling Services was founded in August 1987, remaining the first private company offering handling services in Madeira.
Their primary objective is to offer premium handling services to operators in both Madeira and Porto Santo airports. They also offer handling services at Cabo Verde, Bissau, Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports (passenger handling and ramp supervision).
They are specialised in passenger and ramp handling services, ramp supervision and any other service within this scope that you may need in an airport. Their actual structure maintains all necessary means to offer our high standards of quality combined with security procedures required by today's air transport industry.
Over the last three years the volume of traffic has incremented in almost 60% whilst maintaining our quality guarantee.

Services:

Passenger Services

• Manual or DCS check-in
• Dedicated staff for your company
• Documentation control
• Daily Newspaper service
• Special passenger and VIP services
• Special services (disabled persons, unaccompanied minors)
• Arrival and Baggage services LL with delivery
• Transfer services
• Gate services
• Information desk
• Check-in desks
• Airline corporate identification (branding, dedicated counters, signage)

Operations and Coordination

• Weight and balance
• Flight dispatch
• Crew control and assistance
• Aircraft cleaning
• Unit Load Device control
• Supervision and Representation
• Weather briefing
• Flight operations assistance
• Liaison with airport authorities

Other Services

• Business Aviation
• Updated Security procedures
• Quality internal audits
• Airline dedicated key account responsible
• Supplementary services in baggage irregularities: claims settlement for baggage irregularities and LZ baggage storage
• Airport Administrative Management

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Groundforce Portugal is a new Force within handling services in Portugal, inheriting 60 years of History from TAP Portugal , the dynamism of Portugália Airlines and the leadership of the Globália Group. The result of a new shareholder structure, Groundforce is part of the 6th largest World Group in handling services.

The Groundforce mission is to be a high quality service provider, at a national and international level, guaranteeing clients in conjunction with airlines an elevated level of satisfaction and consistency in service, based on professionalism and experience of its employees, as well as the respect for its social responsibility.

With the ambitious Vision of being one of the 10 largest Ground Handling service providers worldwide, and dominant in the Ibero American/African market niche, Groundforce Portugal bases its Force on providing excellent service, nationally and internationally, based upon important pillars like stability, sharing, effort, and objectives, thereby bringing about the work orientation of a cohesive team aimed at the clients’ needs.
Highly qualified and motivated, our employees are prepared to provide services of the highest quality, a quality which has enabled Groundforce to achieve the image it enjoys today on the international market.

Divided between central services, Equipment Maintenance and Operational Units located in the main Portuguese Airports, Groundforce has more than 2,500 employees.

Operating in the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal and Porto Santo, it serves more than 150 airlines. In partnership with the Globalia Group and the Moroccan airline Regional Air Lines, it won an International Public Tender for the attribution of an access license to the market of ground assistance in five of the main Moroccan airports, through which currently it operates in 13 airports in Portugal and Africa, being the leader in the national market.
Continuing its strategic focus, Groundforce wants to ensure the strengthening of its positioning in national airports, to establish itself as one of the main players in the consolidation movement of the sector, continuing the road of internationalisation and the evaluation of new business opportunities, as seen in the growth and sustained profitability.

Groundforce is a brand that is going to project SPdH in the future, a symbol of change backed by 60 years of History.

SERVICES

• Passenger Service
• Ramp Service
• Cargo
• GSE Maintenance
• Lounges
• Training
• Load Control
• Aircraft Cleaning
• Ground Transportation
• Airport Representation
• Flight Operations and Crew Administration
• Airport Security
• Facility Management
• Consulting and Technical Support

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Air Luxor has a self-handling and support for Air Luxor’s aircraft at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports, having begun operations on 1st January 2004

SATA also has a self handing service as follows:

• Airport Ticketing Sales Desk
• Arrival and Transfer Services
• Baggage Services/ Baggage Sorting
• Check-in Services
• Passenger Services
• Gate and Departure Services
• Lost and Found Services
• Special Passenger and VIP Services
• Load Control and Communications
• Station Control
• Station Representation and Supervision
• Aircraft Loading/ Unloading
• Loaders A319, A320
• Aircraft Servicing and Cleaning

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This is the country's most important airport, and plays an important role in the city's economic development and that of the entire Lisbon Region.
The need to adapt to the demand generated by traffic increase led to investments being made it its modernisation.
In 1998, Lisbon Airport posted the world highest passenger growth rate. The increase in airport capacity, the efficiency and quality of services provided are evident to all its users.
Currently, passengers have a modern, functional and handsome terminal at their disposal with a vast array of services and facilities, guaranteed to satisfy their needs.
For further information please click here

Passengers using the airport as a gateway to Algarve will find a modern terminal building with an agreeable, wide and colourful structure, fitting perfectly into the local climate.
The Airport, which is located only 4 kilometres from downtown, has undergone a series of improvements in order to increase the quality of services provided to passengers and simultaneously contribute to development of the Region and of tourism in general.
For further information please click here

Porto

Visitors arriving by air at the Invicta (an epithet of the City of Porto) find a modern and functional airport, ready to welcome them in the best of manners. The terminal has a wide and pleasant public hall for passengers and their parties.
The airport is under improvements, in order to meet the needs of passengers who, whether on business trips or on vacation, come to the City of Porto.
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The Ilha das Flores is Europe's westernmost point. From here one can see the Ilha do Corvo and, so the legend goes, America.  The airport is located in the village of Santa Cruz and provides links to the other islands. While landing or taking-off, all one sees is a small island with a rich flora. The huge hortensia hedges crisscross the deep blue of the sea. Promenading through the island feels like rediscovering nature.
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Horta Airport is located only 10 km away from city downtown. Passengers landing at or taking-off from Horta airport are delighted at the view: the immense green of the grass and the blue of the hortensia, cutting through the landscape in perfect harmony, while reaching the splendour of Pico's mountain.
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Located near the City of Ponta Delgada, the most populous urban centre on S. Miguel Island, in the Azores Archipelago, the João Paulo II Airport - a modern, forward-looking infrastructure - is one of the main gateways to the Azores Autonomous Region.
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Sta Maria in the Azores

Santa Maria Island is the easternmost island of the Azores Archipelago. The airport is located near the Vila do Porto, the main urban centre.
The airport was a pioneer in the region. More than 50 years have passed since its certification and opening to international civil aviation.
Although it has lately been used mainly for technical stopovers, the inhabitants of Santa Maria still take pride in their airport.
The constant improvement of services provided is a permanent concern of the operators of this infrastructure, which still plays a major role in the development of the island, the region and in the opening of new and wider horizons, for the local population and visitors alike.
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ANAM (Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea de Madeira) operates the airports on Madeira.  ANAM, Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea da Madeira, S.A. has as main purpose the study, planning, construction, management and exploitation of both airports from the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Having finished the extension of the runway and terminal of the new Madeira Airport and without prejudice of planning and developing new airport infrastructures, ANAM's main aim is to plan, administer and develop the public service that supports public aviation, with an increased investment in the commercial area and airport marketing.

As a result, ANAM, S.A. has been entering a set of partnerships with several entities, whether through an Incentive Program to Airport Marketing, or through the development of a Commercial Action Plan, created to improve its commercial performance and to grant a new image to Madeira and Porto Santo Airports, in the achievement of their main goal, that is the public service that supports public aviation, ruled by objective criteria of management and quality of the services provided to passengers and any other users of the Airports from the Autonomous Region.

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Investments
Madeira Airports have currently some considerable projects to improve the quality of services provided for their users, such as:

• Search and Rescue Centre - project of €15m - It is an infrastructure located under Madeira’s Airport runway and created to support and coordinate coast rescue on the southern part of Madeira Island;
• Project of “100% HBS” – It is a project set up to endow both infrastructures (Madeira and Porto Santo) with the necessary means to automatically and fully screen baggage 100%;
• Adaptation of the old Porto Santo’s terminal for the SLCI (Rescue and Fire Fighting) – project of €2m. It consists of construction works and the adaptation of the old Porto Santo’s terminal for the fire station of the infrastructure.

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Cascais Municipal Aerodrome receives Executive Aviation and it is the first Aeronautical Structure for General Aviation, with the largest number of movements in Portugal. In 2004, 57,600 aircraft landed at Cascais Airdrome. The Aerodrome building can cater for 300 passengers per hour and is prepared for receiving domestic and international traffic. It provides a comfortable service for embarking and disembarking operations.

The Cascais Municipal Aerodrome has a 1,700 meter asphalt runway able to receive traffic up to 45 tonnes. The runway has landing and approach lights and uses the Apapis system.
The Aerodrome building can cater for 300 passengers per hour and is prepared for receiving domestic and international traffic. It provides a comfortable service for embarking and disembarking operations.
The Aerodrome also has air traffic control, handling, dispatch and airport operations, a weather observatory, fire-fighting, apron services, security, fuel supply and restaurant/cafeteria, as well as seven shops in the public areas.

Beja Airport

The Edab-Empresa de Desenvolvimento do Aeroporto de Beja SA objective is the promotion of the Beja Military Base for civil purposes, either for air transport and other activities related with civil aviation and creation of necessary infrastructures for the re-definition of the Base role.
The proposal for the enlargement of the existing Base will utilise the existing infra-structures, allowing a reduction of costs in comparison with the construction of a new airport in that region. The EDAB plan is to open the Beja airport in the end of 2007.

The current situation of the Base is the following:

• Quality infrastructures;
• Possibility of using the existing facilities for both military and civil use;
• Good geographic location;
• Low population concentration;
• Available area for future constructions;
• Excellent meteorological conditions;
• Low investment level for the project development;
• Can benefit from EU funds

The success of this project depends on the verification and confirmation several factors such as:

• The airport will be the gate for the Alqueva tourist movements, passenger movements from Sines, Lisbon and Faro;
• Installation of a Business Park in the airport area;
• Fiscal incentives for the installation and creation of companies in that area;
• Improvement of the existing road and railway transport network, especially the Sines/Lisbon connection in order to have the characteristics which allow the fast movement of passengers and goods

Functions of the new airport

The new airport might have the following functions:

• International airport;
• Principal airport for charter companies or low cost companies;
• General Air cargo platform;
• Logistic platform for cargo from and to America and Africa, including fish transport, executing the transhipment to smaller airplanes with connection with other European airports;
• Warehouse for the cargo received at Sines Port, which can be transported by air, fresh products form the Alentejo region;
• Parking base for executive airplanes;
• Maintenance base;
• Training base;
• Location of companies linked with the aeronautical activity;
• Alternative to national airports for passenger and cargo airplanes in certain conditions.

Economic impacts
The main economic impacts that this Project might bring are the following:

• Economic Development of the Alentejo region which is primarily an agricultural economy with few transforming industries;
• The new airport will attract other new investments

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