Portela Airport

The symbol for the Portela Airport is LIS. The Portela Airport has two main runways that can accommodate airplanes as large as a Boeing 747. In 2006 the Portela Airport saw more than 12 million passengers and over 81,000 tons of cargo. The airport opened in 1942, and soon afterwards a new terminal and runway were built to deal with the growing use of the airport. The Portela Airport is different than other airports in Europe, as it is in the heart of Lisbon itself, only 7 kilometers (4 miles) away from the city center.

There have been discussions for another airport outside the city, and a couple of locations have been discussed. A final decision will be handed down in the end of 2007. An announcement has also been made by the company that operates the Portela Airport to expand the structures of the airport to keep up with the traffic growth and the expanding growth of passenger traffic until the new airport outside of Lisbon is complete, which will be in 2017. A new terminal was opened in August of 2007, used on a limited basis until completion, with new gates for boarding and new parking options. The new construction on the airport is to be completed in 2010.

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The Portela Airport serves many of the major airlines from countries all over the world. The Portela Airport has two floors, and the arrivals and departures at the airport are located on the upper level of the airport terminal. The Baggage Claim area is located on the ground floor. Just outside the Baggage Claim area you can find the transportation options of buses, taxis, and various types of shuttles. Ticketing is also located on the ground level. The airport has one main building that has two separate concourses, one for domestic flights and one for international flights.

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The Portela Airport is very simple to get to from anywhere in Portugal. The airport is connected by Lisbon's A1 motorway, which runs directly past the airport. The A2 southern motorway comes from the south of Lisbon and gives easy access to the city and the airport.

From the north, those wishing to access the airport can drive south along either the A8 or A1 from the north part of Portugal towards Lisbon. Turn left onto the N249 and then take a left again for the airport. From the south you can drive north to the A2 crossing to the estuary bypassing Lisbon. Then you will merge with the E1 heading east and keep going until you see the Portela Airport exit. You can also drive along the Campo Granda as well as the E1/A1 from the central part of Lisbon.

If you are coming from the east, drive northwest on the IP1 and then turn left onto the E1/A1 and head towards Lisbon. You then follow the signs for the Portela Airport and take a right into the airport area after driving a few miles. From the west, drive on the N6 and A5 heading east and turn left onto the IC17 merging with the N249. Keep driving east and northeast and then you will merge with the E1/A1 until you get to the airport.

The roads leading to Lisbon get congested with traffic often, especially in the summer months and at the morning and late afternoon rush hours. Make sure you give yourself enough time when going to the airport during these times. Also make sure to give yourself enough time when you are flying internationally. From flights to other destinations inside Europe you should get to the airport two hours before your flight. For international flights you should get to the airport three hours before your flight.

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Even if you do not have a car, it is still very easy to get to the Portela Airport. Lisbon has a great bus network. There is also a train station near the airport and different types of airport shuttles. Except for the train, all the transportation options are located right outside the Baggage Claim area.

The least expensive option for getting to and from the Portela Airport is by bus. There are public buses to the airport from all areas of Lisbon. The buses 5,22,44,45, and 83 all travel to the airport from areas all over Lisbon. You can also get buses for long distance trips, both internationally and locally, from the airport.

There are many shuttle buses at the Portela Airport. There is an Aerobus, number 91, which runs to the city center of Lisbon 7 days a week. There are several departure times from the airport, and the trip generally takes around 20 minutes depending on the traffic. The Scotturb shuttle bus travels to both western coastal resort towns of Estoril and Cascais and runs every hour.

There are not any rail connection directly from the city center of Lisbon and the Portela Airport, but there are several train stations nearby that can be reached by taxi from the airport. Two of the bigger train stations are Gare do Oriente and Parque das Naçoes. From both of these train stations there are connections to the Lisbon Metro. The Metro has four lines and goes to all areas around Lisbon.

There are taxi stations that are located at both the Arrivals and Departures area of the airport. The taxis are metered, but it is a good idea to get the price of the fare to your destination from your driver beforehand. There is a surcharge from the airport, and there are extra charges if you have luggage. Taking a taxi from the airport to the city center of Lisbon will cost around 10 Euros.

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There are many shopping possibilities at the Portela Airport. There are a number of duty free shops as well as retail stores. The duty free shops give non European Union travelers shopping that is tax-free on goods that are dutiable. Many of the regular shops are located in Departures area. At the Portela Airport there is an electronics store and a music store as well as other stores that carry such goods as jewelry, clothes, mobile phones, and travel goods. Just a few of the shops are the Divers and Relay bookstore, Lacoste and Lune Bleu fashion stores, and the Vista Alegre gift shop. There are also several newsstands around the airport where you can purchase books, magazines, newspapers, souvenirs, and snacks.

There are many eating and drinking establishments at the Portela Airport. There are snack bars, sit down cafes, fast food eateries, and full service restaurants. Just a few of the places to grab some food and drink at the airport are the Ibersol Cockpit Bar, Harrods KnightBridge, Astrolábio Snack Bar, Delta Cafe, Express Café, and the upscale Harrods Knightsbridge coffee shop. There is also a Pizza Hut and a McDonalds in the Departures area. You can also find some great Portuguese delicacies at the Cores Doces food store. Like the shops in the airport many of the places to eat and drink are near the Departure area.

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The Portela Airport has two travel information desks, one each in the Arrivals and Departures area. These travel information desks are open all day long. In the Arrivals area there is also a Lisbon Tourism Desk. At this desk you can find out information about Lisbon as well as options for accommodations in the city, transport options, and other tourist information. The number for the Airport Information Desk is (351) 218 413 700. The main telephone number for the Portela Airport is (0)21 841 3500 and the fax number is (0)21 841 3675. There is a baby care area that is located in the Arrivals area. There is a left luggage facility is located in the Arrivals area, which is directly next to P2 parking on level 2. The left luggage facility is open 24 hours a day. Here you can store luggage until your return to the airport. The fees for the left luggage are for every day and for every piece of luggage. There are also showers that are available at the Departures boarding lounge.

The Portela Airport has man facilities for disabled people such as special ramps, telephones, lifts, and bathrooms. These disabled facilities are spread around the airport. Travelers that are disabled can get in touch with the airline they are flying with if they need special assistance while at the airport. Disabled passengers can also contact the Airport Information Desk if they would like to use a wheelchair while at the airport.

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There are communication, banking, and currency exchange services available at the Portela Airport. There are bureau de change booths located in both the departures and arrivals area. The Departures area also has a full service post office. The hours of the post office are 9 AM to 8 PM Monday - Friday and 9 AM to 1 PM Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. There are 16 ATM machines and many public payphones located throughout the airport.

The Portela Airport has business and conference facilities available for business travelers. There is a conference room that can be booked in advance as well as business services located on the Apolo, Icaro, and Ulisses lounges, which are located in the Arrivals area. Available at these lounges are telephones, Internet access, and fax machines. There are also several airline business class lounges that you can use if you are a member.

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There are literally thousands of parking spaces at the Portela Airport. These spaces are located in the short-term and long-term parking areas that are just to the right of the terminal near the entrance at the airport. There are two short-term parking areas, called P1 and P2, which give access to the airport terminal. The P1 parking area is near the departures area, and P2 is located right next to Arrivals. There is also a courtesy shuttle service to the airport terminal. P3 is the long-term parking area, which offers the least expensive parking options at the airport. The P3 parking area is located near the short-term parking areas and has easy access to the terminal by the courtesy shuttles. There are also disabled parking spaces available near the short-term parking lifts. Porter assistance is available if requested.

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There are many accommodation possibilities in and around Lisbon. There are budget hotels, five star luxury hotels, guesthouses, and pensions that are readily available in Lisbon. There are also many hotels in the coastal resort towns near Lisbon, such as Estoril and Cascais. There are no hotels located at the airport, but the hotels within 5 kilometers are the Pensao Lar do Areeiro, Hotel Alif, Hotel Dom Manuel, Best Western Hotel Eduardo VII Hotel, Comfort Hotel Principe Lisbon, The Delta, and Sheraton Lisboa Hotel and Towers.

Lisbon has several districts where there are many accommodation options. The Baixa and Chiado districts are near the city center and are close to the public square, which is called Praca do Comércio. Many of the places to say in these districts are next to the cafes and restaurants in the area. The Saldanha district is business oriented, and there are many hotels in the area. This district has many of the better-known hotel chains. The Belém district is very popular and many of the hotels in the area look over the Tagus River. This district has great views of Lisbon and especially the picturesque Belém tower. The Lapa district has many hotels, many of which are actually in historic buildings. The district is quite but at night livens up with many bars and nightclubs in the area.

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