Our Review of Lisbon Airport (LIS)

Our Review of Lisbon Airport (LIS)

Information compiled by David Enrich, aviation and airport guide expert since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we continuously analyze passenger feedback from platforms such as Google Reviews, Skytrax, Tripadvisor, Reddit and specialized aviation forums to better understand the real airport experience from the traveler’s perspective. For this review of Lisbon Airport (LIS), we examined hundreds of recent opinions covering areas such as security, cleanliness, terminal comfort, transport connections, shopping and overall efficiency. 

The most positively rated aspect of Lisbon Airport is undoubtedly its location. Travelers consistently highlight how close the airport is to downtown Lisbon and appreciate the direct Metro connection, affordable taxis and excellent flight network across Europe, Brazil and Africa. Many passengers also praise the airport’s modern shopping areas, good food selection and relatively easy navigation compared to larger European hubs. 

However, the most frequent complaints are related to overcrowding and long waiting times. Reviews on Skytrax and Reddit repeatedly mention long security and passport control queues, especially during early mornings and summer months. Terminal 2 also receives criticism for limited seating, fewer services and congestion during peak periods. Some travelers describe the airport as stressful during busy hours, particularly for Non-Schengen flights. 

Another recurring point in reviews is that Lisbon Airport feels undersized for the volume of passengers it currently handles. Despite several improvements in recent years, many travelers believe the airport infrastructure struggles during peak demand.

Final Rating: 7.2 / 10

Lisbon Airport offers excellent connectivity, a privileged location close to the city and solid transport options, making it one of Southern Europe’s most convenient airports. However, congestion, long queues and capacity limitations prevent it from reaching the level of Europe’s top-rated hubs. For travelers arriving prepared and allowing extra time, the overall experience is generally good and efficient.

 

Pros and Cons of Lisbon Airport (LIS)

PROs

Location: Lisbon Airport is conveniently located about 7 km from downtown Lisbon, providing quick and easy access for travelers. Its close proximity makes it a popular choice for both business and leisure travelers visiting the capital.

European Connectivity: The airport is a major entry point between Europe and the Atlantic regions, acting as a hub for TAP Air Portugal and providing a comprehensive list of flights to locations throughout Europe and North Africa and North and South America.

Airline Focus City:  LIS Airport is a focus city to Azores Airlines, Ryanair and EasyJet.

Public Transport Accessibility: Lisbon Airport is well-connected to the city by the Metro’s Red Line, buses, and the Aerobus service, providing a variety of options for reaching central Lisbon quickly and affordably.

Modern Facilities: The airport offers a broad selection of food and retail options, as well as cozy lounges and duty-free stores to meet the demands of travelers.

 

CONS

Capacity Constraints: Long lines at passport control, security, and check-in can occur at Lisbon Airport during busy travel seasons like the summer and holidays. The airport’s infrastructure is occasionally stressed owing to high passenger demand.

Terminal Separation:  After security, there is no direct connection between Terminals 1 and 2, thus travelers must use the shuttle bus, which is the only means of transportation between the two. This can be confusing, especially for people who are not familiar with the layout of the airport.

Limited Seating Areas: There may be a lack of seating in the gate areas, especially during busy times, making it challenging to find a comfortable place to wait for flights.

Immigration Delays: Delays at immigration at Lisbon Airport are common, especially during rush hours when several planes arrive at once. This causes lengthier lines at passport check.

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Terminals:  There are two terminals at Lisbon Airport: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

• Terminal 1: This is the main terminal and handles all arrivals, both domestic and international. Most major airlines operate from here, and it offers a wider range of services and amenities.
• Terminal 2: Terminal 2 is mostly utilized by low-cost carriers and is exclusively used for boarding. Processing of all arrivals from Terminal 2 takes place in Terminal 1. If you are departing from Terminal 2, allow additional time for your trip since shuttle buses connect the two terminals.

Transport to and from Lisbon: There are several ways to go from Lisbon Airport to the city center - metro, taxis, public buses, and shuttle services like Aerobus. A less expensive option is the Metro Red Line, which takes around 20 minutes to get to the city center. But, as the metro doesn’t run all the time, you may need to use a cab or transfer service if you arrive late at night.

Check-in Areas:

• Terminal 1: The check-in area is located on the public area of departure level along with airline ticketing desks and other services.
• Terminal 2: Terminal 2 is a single-storey building, which is split into the public and restricted areas. The check-in counters 201-222 are located on the public area.

Dining and Shopping: There is a huge variety of shops and restaurants in Terminal 1, including duty-free shops, regional restaurants, and worldwide brands. Terminal 2 offers a more limited range, so plan accordingly if you want to get a bite before your trip.

Family-Friendly Facilities: Lisbon Airport has family-friendly amenities, such as nurseries and play spaces. It is now simpler for parents who are taking little children on trips.

Airport Lounges: The majority of lounges, such as the ANA Lounge, which provides a cozy area with food, beverages, and Wi-Fi, are found at Terminal 1. For travelers looking for a quiet place to wait for their flight, lounges are great.

Additional Tip: Lisbon Airport offers free Wi-Fi throughout both terminals – you can use it while waiting for your flight.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Lisbon Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Lisbon Airport (last month)