Monte Real Air Base joins a short list of candidates for accepting 'low cost' commercial flights.

The president of the Central Tourist Authority, Pedro Machado, said this week he had "unofficial" information that the Government is studying the possibility of using the Monte Real Military Air Base as a complementary structure to the Portela (Lisbon) Airport to receive civil low cost flights, and reduce congestion in Lisbon.

The list also includes Beja, Sintra and Montijo. Apparently the govenment are looking for an additional airport that can handle around 1.5 million passengers a year, to ease the growing congestion at Lisbon's Portela airport, possible because the new Lisbon Airport project now seems a long way off due to financial cutbacks.

Hey Portugal will follow this story closely and bring you news as we get it. It would be a great boost for the Silver Coast and central Portugal if Monte Real is chosen. We would definaltely see an increase in Tourism and surely an increase in house prices too.