Aeroplanes rerouted in Lisbon to reduce noise for 35,000 inhabitants

The measure, which has been put forward by Air Navigation Portugal (NAV), is intended to reduce aircraft noise and should result in about 35,000 fewer residents in the most affected municipalities, Loures and Vila Franca de Xira, being exposed to it.

This adjustment comes after a series of complaints regarding the air traffic reorganisation introduced in May 2024, during which the departure routes were altered so as to pass over land at Alverca instead of over the Tagus Estuary.

The new arrangement consists of a small westward movement of the routes in order to reduce the effect on local residential areas—although the noise problem still affects more than 200,000 people in the municipalities of Lisbon, Loures, Vila Franca de Xira and Amadora.

Furthermore, Portugal's state-owned "Less Noise" (Menos Ruído) programme has assigned 10 million euros (to be put into action between 2026 and 2027) to pay for the fitting of acoustic insulation in residential properties situated in the areas most exposed to the noise.