Air travel between the United Kingdom and Portugal to be reduced

Is taking the train a viable alternative?

Next summer, Ryanair will cut down on flights from the UK to many Portuguese locations, so getting there might be a somewhat greater challenge. Due to increasing airport costs, Ryanair will no longer provide service to several popular locations in 2024.

Reduced service to Faro and Porto is one of many Portuguese destinations that Ryanair will cut from the UK. Madeira is an archipelago in Portugal that will see a 50% reduction in aircraft grounds and a possible closure of bases by the economical airline, following the example set by Ponta Delgada in the Azores.

The additional fees implemented by ANA Aeroportos de Portugal—which oversees ten hubs around the nation—were criticized by company chief Michael O'Leary. Ryanair plans to downgrade one of its two Madeira-based flights and drastically cut itineraries to/from Faro and Porto for summer 2024 if ANA persists with these current monopolistic pricing rises until 2024.

Airport fees in Portugal impede the rehabilitation of the tourist industry after the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, airport fees are projected to rise by an average of 14.6% nationwide, which translates to around €1.60 per passenger for each trip.

O'Leary believes that the ANA monopoly should freeze or lower rates to assist boost traffic and tourist recovery in Portugal post-COVID, citing the instance of other major European terminals, particularly in Spain. Moreover, if the situation persists, Madeira and the Azores will see a decline in tourism as a result of ANA's unfair and exorbitant 17% fee hike, which is hurting Portugal's competitive advantages.

As a result of the change, airfare is anticipated to increase, but on the other hand there is good news for those who would like to go to Portugal by rail.

Taking the train to Portugal is a more eco-friendly and leisurely option than flying. Although the route is now very roundabout, it offers two lively capital towns as rest stops and lots of picturesque landscapes to explore.

Starting in London, passengers can board the Eurostar for a night in Paris. From there, they can take the TGV to Barcelona, where they will be able to change trains to Madrid. After spending one more night in Madrid, visitors can take a three-train combination to reach Lisbon the following day.

The good news is that the Spanish train firm Renfe is considering establishing direct services between Madrid and Lisbon, as well as between Porto and the port city of A Coruña in northwest Spain.

By 2027, a planned high-speed train route via Badajoz could potentially reduce the travel time between Madrid and Lisbon in half, to six hours.

 

source: euronews.com