AECOM has been appointed to deliver the preliminary design for Portugal’s New Lisbon Airport (Luís de Camões Airport), a flagship infrastructure project that will replace the capital’s existing airport and significantly expand the country’s international aviation capacity.
The company has been selected by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, part of the VINCI Airports group, to lead the initial design phase of what is expected to become one of Europe’s most significant airport developments over the coming decade.
Working alongside Portuguese partners, AECOM will provide a comprehensive package of technical, engineering, architectural and project management services as plans progress for the new international hub.
The development is intended to address long-standing capacity constraints at Lisbon’s current Humberto Delgado Airport, which has limited scope for further expansion, while supporting Portugal’s growing tourism sector and wider economic ambitions.
A new gateway for Portugal
The new airport will be constructed on a site spanning the municipalities of Benavente and Montijo, incorporating part of the former Alcochete firing range across the Tagus River from Lisbon.
Designed as a modern international gateway, the airport will be built with flexibility to allow future expansion while minimising operational disruption as passenger demand increases.
AECOM said the project will place particular emphasis on passenger experience, operational efficiency and long-term adaptability.
Russell Jackson, Interim Chief Executive of AECOM’s Global Transportation business, described the appointment as a landmark project for both the company and Portugal.
“We are proud to bring our global aviation expertise to this transformative project for the country of Portugal. Leveraging our international reach and working closely with our local partners and ANA Aeroportos de Portugal, we aim to create an iconic gateway that drives economic growth, supports tourism and delivers far-reaching benefits for generations to come.”
Richard Whitehead, Chief Executive of AECOM’s Europe and India region, said the company’s integrated delivery approach would help create an airport capable of evolving alongside future demand.
“Our integrated design approach – spanning the full range of design and project management services while leveraging both global expertise and local knowledge – will support the creation of an airport for the future that is both visionary and practical.
“Centered on passenger experience and designed to be efficient with built-in flexibility for incremental expansion with minimal disruption, this airport will redefine connectivity for Portugal.”
Building on global aviation expertise
The appointment adds another major aviation programme to AECOM’s international portfolio.
The company has recently been involved in significant airport developments including Boston Logan International Airport in the United States, Kuwait International Airport, and Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima, Peru.
Its aviation practice provides programme management, design, architecture, engineering and sustainability advisory services for airports around the world.
Project management perspective
The New Lisbon Airport programme represents one of Europe’s most complex infrastructure delivery challenges, combining aviation engineering, environmental planning, transport integration and long-term capacity planning within a single mega-project.
Unlike terminal expansion programmes, the development involves creating an entirely new international airport while maintaining uninterrupted operations at Lisbon’s existing airport until the new facility is ready for transition. This requires meticulous programme management, with careful coordination of planning approvals, design development, procurement, construction sequencing and operational readiness over a multi-year delivery timeline.
The project’s emphasis on incremental expansion also reflects changing thinking in airport programme delivery. Rather than designing for a fixed capacity from day one, modern airports are increasingly planned as adaptable assets capable of responding to changing passenger demand, airline operations and technological advances. Delivering that flexibility requires project teams to embed scalability into master planning, infrastructure layouts and construction phasing from the earliest design stages.
For project professionals, the appointment demonstrates the growing importance of integrated programme management in major aviation developments. Success will depend not only on engineering excellence but also on stakeholder coordination across government, regulators, airport operators, airlines, local communities and environmental authorities. Balancing these competing priorities while maintaining cost, schedule and quality will be fundamental to delivering an airport capable of supporting Portugal’s economic growth and international connectivity for decades to come.
