Attendees including startup executives and public sector leaders are facing an unusual logistical challenge at the ongoing Web Summit, according to the Financial Times. Officials at Lisbon Airport are rejecting certain private flights, redirecting them to distant facilities like those in Badajoz, Spain, which lies approximately two hours from the Portuguese capital.
Such complications are perhaps inevitable given the event's profile. The Web Summit serves as a major gathering for the tech sector, drawing venture capitalists, emerging companies, and prominent figures delivering presentations—such as the leaders of Qualcomm and Microsoft this year—who often opt for private aviation. This influx strains the capacity at Lisbon's main airport.
Event coordinators have informed participants via notice: 'Note that private jet availability is limited at Lisbon Airport (LIS) and nearby regional fields amid the Web Summit. The facility is struggling with high demand, leading to insufficient slots for departures and arrivals across various flight types.'
The Financial Times notes that this level of aviation congestion represents a novel issue for the summit, stemming equally from an uptick in private jet usage and the expanded attendance figures this time around. While disregarding the ecological consequences of individual charters, one might expect the assembled innovators to devise alternatives to long detours and road travel into the country, such as group-booked large-capacity flights.