Tech executives ‍preparing to attend next week’s Web Summit in Lisbon are encountering unexpected logistical hurdles: a notable shortage of ⁣landing slots for private aircraft. Organizers alerted speakers on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, to the limited availability at Lisbon Airport, which is currently ⁣struggling to accommodate the increased demand.

Airport Capacity Strained

The situation⁣ is impacting those traveling with larger ⁣private planes most acutely. Some⁤ attendees have discovered that the only available⁢ landing slots during the⁤ conference⁢ period are‍ located over two hours away from Lisbon, with some options extending into Spain. This highlights the growing⁢ strain on European airport infrastructure as demand for air travel rebounds.

High-Profile Speakers Affected

Several prominent tech leaders are scheduled to speak at the annual⁢ Web summit, including Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon, Lyft⁤ CEO David‍ Risher, ‍and Microsoft President Brad Smith. The organizers have emphasized that the ⁣landing slot limitations are⁢ beyond their control and have apologized for their inability to secure additional access.

Commercial Travel Recommended

In light of the challenges,Web‍ Summit organizers are advising speakers to opt for commercial flights. Lisbon’s main⁢ airport is conveniently located just a 15-minute drive from the conference venue, offering a more reliable travel option. This situation underscores the potential difficulties even high-profile attendees can face when relying on private air‍ travel during peak ⁣event periods.