Planes flights and airlines

AN airport in Europe is set to finally get a huge new airport – after being delayed for DECADES.

The Luís de Camões Airport has been in development for years and is set to serve the capital of Portugal, eventually.

Believe it or not, the potential of building a new airport near Lisbon has been on the cards since the mid-1960s.

During that time it was realised that it would be almost impossible to expand Lisbon Airport – known at the time as Portela Airport which opened in 1942.

So plans were made to build a second airport which would eventually serve Lisbon called Luís de Camões Airport.

It would open in Alcochete which is across the Tagus River from Lisbon and would be a 50-minute drive from the city.

SECRET SPAIN

Best Spanish resorts you’ve NEVER heard of – with hotels from £28 a night 

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

There have been many proposals year-on-year about the airport, and recently more changes have been made to the plans.

As reported in The Portugal News, there have been new talks to discuss issues such as the ‘size of the runways, the separation between them, and the contact positions’.

Designs of the airport feature two runways in its initial phase, with construction expected to begin around 2030–2031.

In the future there would be potential to expand with another two runways taking the total up to four in order to handle up to 100 million passengers by 2050.

It’s estimated that the cost to build Luís de Camões Airport will be €9billion (£7.7billion).

Currently, Lisbon’s main airport, Humberto Delgado Airport, has two runways and sees more than 35 million passengers per year.

This makes it one of the largest airports in Europe when it comes to the amount of passengers.

It’s also one of the only major airports that has an approach path directly over the city.

Eventually when Luís de Camões Airport opens, the one in the heart of Lisbon will close completely.

With discussions still being made about the airport, work is yet to start however operations are estimated to begin in 2034 – and it has come to the attention of officials too.

Carlos Mineiro Alves, executive director of the Portuguese Construction Foundation said: “We cannot have a country that is lagging behind. We have already lost a lot of time on fundamental issues such as the new Lisbon airport and the high-speed railway.”

For more on airports, here are the full list of the ones that have scrapped the strict 100ml liquid rule after 20 years.

Here is the UK airport that has been named the worst in the country for flight cancellations.

THERE’S bad news for passengers flying with easyJet to Italy this weekend.

On Saturday, unions representing easyJet’s pilots and flight attendants have announced a strike due to to take place between 1pm and 5pm.

easyJet operates daily departures across Italy in destinations like Milan Malpensa, Naples, Venice and Rome Fiumicino. 

Currently, easyJet says that there is only one return flight scheduled to and from the UK within the strike period which is currently set to operate as planned.

Another nine intra-EU flights are also within the strike period, but there are also plans in place to operate.

easyJet also told Sun Travel: “We have contingency plans in place so our flying programme to and from Italy is currently scheduled to operate as planned tomorrow.

GO SEA IT

£9.50 holiday spot with shipwrecks, seals offshore & horseshoe-shaped waterfalls

SIGHT SEA

£9.50 holidaymakers’ favourite Skegness activities… away from the beach

“We will contact customers directly should their flight be affected.”

Naples Airport operator GESAC has warned of “possible delays and cancellations”, urging travellers to check the status of their flights.

The industrial action has been taken as a result of delays in talks over roster patterns, post-pandemic wage restoration and integration of the new Airbus A321neo aircraft.

A number of services could be grounded and the select time of the walkout is to maximise disruption. 

SkyRefund has advised that if your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer you a choice between a full refund or re-routing to your destination.

If the airline cannot fly you out quickly, they should book you onto a flight with an alternative carrier.

Commenting on passenger rights, Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of flight compensation specialists SkyRefund, said: “Passengers should be aware that while airlines often cite strikes as ‘extraordinary circumstances’, industrial action by an airline’s own employees, such as this walk-out by easyJet pilots and cabin crew, is generally considered within the carrier’s control under UK and Under EU 261/2004 regulations.

“Because this strike stems from internal disputes over wages and rosters, it does not typically meet the criteria for an ‘unforeseeable’ event.

“If your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than three hours, you aren’t just entitled to a seat on the next available flight; you are likely eligible for fixed financial compensation of up to £520 (€600) per person.”

Flight compensation rules

A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?

Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.

If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.

You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.

So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.

But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.

When am I not entitled to compensation?

The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.

Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.

Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?

If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.

Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.

Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.

If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.

Here’s more information on what to do if your flight is cancelled or delayed due to a mystery ‘tech glitch’.

And these are the circumstances where you won’t get any compensation for a cancelled flight.