Faro Airport’s new terminal building was inaugurated today by the Prime Minster, António Costa, as the €33 million refit is close to completion.
As expected, the ceremony also was attended by the Minister for Infrastructure, Pedro Marques, who said he expected "a 50% increase in passenger number in the next in five to six years" which he guessed would equate to €600,000 in additional export earnings.
Pedro Marques took the opportunity to comment on the 'on-off' Faro airport rail link project, 'Preliminary environmental feasibility studies for this link are in preparation. Economic studies have already been carried out, which indicate that this link will be viable,” said Marquês, while offering no time scale.
The airport revamp was funded by airport operator ANA, owned by Vinci Airports, but the ministers are keen to align themselves with the successful near-completion of the project that has created more room for travellers, shops, staff and aircraft.
The airport is bigger by one hectare and can cope with more passengers on more flights. Alberto Mota Borges, director of Faro Airport, said that some commercial spaces have yet to be completed.
António Costa, celebrating his 56th birthday by visiting the Algarve, said that tourists number are up 9.5% to the end of April this year and that "this is not cyclical, tourism in Portugal is growing because of improving quality. It is essential to continue working on tourism all year round."
The PM, always keen to stress the positive, assured the Algarve that a decision is going to be made at the end of the month that will solve the region’s health problems by creating the University Hospital of the Algarve and establishing the conditions necessary to keep more doctors in the region.
The Prime Minister also visited Olhão, where he was received by the delighted mayor, António Pina.
The pro-oil Minister of the Sea, Ana Paula Vitorino and the Secretary of State for Fisheries, José Apolinário, accompanied the PM on a visit the specialist fish food technology company ‘Sparos,’ a spin-off from the Centre for of Marine Sciences at the University of the Algarve.
The ever-cheery prime minister said he was impressed by the quality of the work carried out by this internationally renowned company,
"Sparos is an excellent example of how a knowledge-intensive company can make a decisive contribution to change, not only within the industry, but also in the technological profile of the country and, above all, contribute to the future sustainability and quality of farmed fish."
Mayor Pina commented that, "It is these kind of projects, dedicated to research, innovation and, above all, to do with the sea, that we want to attract to Olhão."
Sparos is a scientific and technological SME dedicated to the development of new products and nutritional solutions for the aquaculture market. It is based in Olhão and served the entire European market - a perfect choice fot today's birthday visit.