Reports of complete disruption and functional ineptitude continue to emerge, painting a picture of a true collapse in the daily operations of handlers, marked by significant delays, logistical constraints, and a noticeable inability to meet existing demand, expressed the association in a statement, expressing deep concern over a situation they claim compromises the country’s competitiveness.
According to APAT, the lack of handling resources at airports has been increasing transit times and operational costs due to the diversion of cargo to competing airports such as Madrid in Spain, from where it is subsequently shipped.
This scenario, they emphasized, leads to direct losses for the national economy and the entire logistics chain that depends on the efficiency of national airports, weakening Portugal’s role as a strategic logistical interface, particularly in air transport.
APAT has observed, with a critical and interventionist voice, the progressive degradation of handling in Portugal, where the imposition of arbitrary fees by Menzies constituted one of the most disruptive chapters in an unfortunate story that we will not fail to recount and report, they added.
The association thus called for the intervention of the competent authorities, with measures to ensure the regularity, transparency, and efficiency of airport services.
