Tech leaders are facing a unique challenge as they attempt to reach Lisbon for the renowned Web Summit. The issue? Lisbon’s main airport is struggling to accommodate the influx of private jets, leading to a surprising consequence: tech executives are being redirected to landing sites as far as Badajoz, Spain, which is a several-hour drive away. This situation has sparked curiosity and concern among attendees and organizers alike.
The Financial Times reports that the organizers of this major tech event have received complaints from delegates about being forced to travel long distances to reach the summit. This is a significant problem, as it’s the first time the event has encountered such a bottleneck. The event attracts thousands of visitors, including startups, government officials, and technology leaders, and the demand for private jet slots is higher than ever.
The organizers have issued a warning, stating that there is a shortage of private jet slots during the Web Summit at Lisbon Airport and surrounding smaller airports. They attribute this to the airport’s difficulty in managing the increased volume of traffic, resulting in a lack of available take-off and landing slots. This has led to a challenging situation where some guests, especially those with larger planes, are being directed to landing sites over two hours away from Lisbon.
The organizers emphasize that this is an unforeseen circumstance and apologize for their limited ability to secure slots. They strongly recommend flying commercially into Lisbon to avoid the inconvenience. But why is this happening? The answer lies in the event’s rapid growth.
Web Summit, which relocated from Ireland to Lisbon about a decade ago, has become one of the tech world’s most significant gatherings. The number of startups exhibiting at the event has skyrocketed, increasing more than sixfold in the past decade to over 1,000 this year. Additionally, more than 75 governments will send delegations, with many traveling on government or royal jets to accommodate their large groups. This trend of private jet use among tech company founders further exacerbates the issue.
The bottleneck at Web Summit highlights the challenges of managing a rapidly growing event and the need for efficient airport infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.