In the first quarter of 2023, a record 13 million passengers passed through the five national airports, exceeding the number recorded in the same period in 2019 by 15% and 55% compared to the same period of the previous year.

According to the latest report by Vinci, the owner of ANA, Portugal is one of the five countries – along with Serbia, Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica – where the passenger record was reached between January and March of this year. The document also indicates that the rise in the number of passengers results from the “rapid increase in seats offered by companies”, both flag carriers and low-cost, operating in Portugal.

At Lisbon airport between January and March, more than seven million passengers circulated. The highest number ever, 14% above pre-pandemic year levels and 58% year-on-year. Vinci says that this increase is the result of Humberto Delgado's “excellent” connections with countries such as France, the United Kingdom or Brazil.

Vinci also points out that Ryanair's commitment to Funchal airport – which created a base in Madeira in April last year – led to a 44% increase in traffic in Madeira, which is a “popular destination” among passengers. In the first quarter of this year, around one million travellers passed through Funchal airport, 43% more than in 2019 and 68% more than in the same period last year.

In the first quarter of this year, almost three million travellers travelled through Porto airport. 12% more compared to the same period of 2019 and 50% above the same period of the previous year. In Faro, 1.1 million passengers were registered, 46% more than in the same period of the previous year and 9.6% more than in 2019.

Finally, in the Azores, 480 thousand passengers were registered at the beginning of this year, 42% more when compared to the same period of the previous year and 18% more than in 2019.