Portugal’s gateway
Lisbon Airport opened in 1942, during World War II, when neutral Portugal was one of the few routes between Europe and the Americas. It was renamed in 2016 after General Humberto Delgado, an opposition figure during the dictatorship. As tourism to Portugal boomed in the 2010s, the airport became one of the most congested in Europe, with only one main runway.
What you’ll see on the live cam
TAP Air Portugal is the star: its A330neos and A321LRs connect Lisbon to Brazil, Africa and North America, and the airline’s history with Portuguese-speaking countries gives Lisbon routes found nowhere else in Europe. Between TAP flights, low-cost carriers bring tourists from across the continent. The stream also shows the warm evening light that makes Lisbon so photogenic.
Runway
Lisbon has a single main runway, 02/20 (a crossing runway has been closed and converted to taxiways and parking). With the prevailing northerly winds, runway 02 is used most of the time, which means arrivals come in over the city from the south.
Best times to watch
- Early morning (06:00–09:00): TAP long-haul arrivals from Brazil and North America.
- Late afternoon: TAP’s departure bank to the Americas.
- Sunset: golden light over the approach.
