Expert Urges Prompt Call to Action
Aviation consultant Frederico Fernandes strongly supports the construction of a second airport in Madeira, stressing that planning must start immediately. "It’s not a far-fetched idea," he said. "It makes sense and needs responsible planning." He warns that delaying the decision could result in long wait times for approval and construction, potentially delaying the solution by a decade.
Climate Change and Growing Traffic Raise Concerns
Fernandes highlights two main drivers for the second airport: climate change and increasing air traffic. "Weather is becoming more extreme," he explained. "We are already seeing more aggressive weather patterns, and our current airport could struggle to cope in the future." The island's growing popularity as a tourist destination also adds significant pressure to the existing infrastructure, which may soon become inadequate.
Balancing Tourism and Island Capacity
Madeira’s tourism boom has been remarkable, but Fernandes cautions that the island is reaching its capacity to comfortably accommodate visitors. "We’re nearing the limit of how many people we can host," he noted. A second airport must support sustainable growth by balancing tourism with the island’s ability to handle it. Long-term planning is necessary to ensure the infrastructure does not overwhelm the region’s resources.
Fernandes suggests the new airport should be designed with future needs in mind, looking ahead 30 to 50 years to avoid operational problems. "We need infrastructure that won’t be obsolete in a few decades," he said.
Decisions Needed Now
While potential funding sources are available, Fernandes insists that decisions must be made soon. He recommends consulting airport construction experts to identify the best location. We need to plan now to meet the challenges ahead, Fernandes urged.
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