A weekly news review from Portugal Resident has pulled together three Portuguese stories with real relevance for anyone heading to the country this year, and the first one hits holidaymakers directly: the seemingly endless saga of the EN125, the main road that runs the length of the Algarve.
The stretch east of Olhão remains the sore point. The upgrade project, tied to an old Rota Este do Algarve contract, has been locked in deadlock for years, with arbitration dragging on and suspicions of hidden clauses in the original agreement. For visitors, the practical reality is that the EN125 between Olhão and the Spanish border is still a busy, patchy road clogged with local traffic in summer – so allow extra time if you're driving to Tavira, Monte Gordo or crossing into Spain.
Second on the agenda: Lufthansa's move to take a minority stake in TAP, Portugal's flag carrier. Airline pilots have reacted positively to the German group's involvement, but other unions are more cautious, and there's public concern about whether Portuguese taxpayers will ultimately lose out, plus the prospect of labour friction down the line. Travellers shouldn't expect immediate changes, though anyone booking TAP long-haul via Lisbon will be watching how this reshapes the airline's network and fares.
The third story is less glamorous but telling: Portugal has missed its electronic waste recycling targets, with critics pointing to weak enforcement and a monitoring committee that has sat idle, despite EU rules and funding meant to fix exactly this. The hosts of the review close by arguing that media scrutiny, public pressure and Brussels' oversight are what actually push politicians to act.
For visitors, the takeaway is a familiar one – Portugal is wonderful but its infrastructure projects move slowly. The EN125 is why the A22 motorway, tolls and all, remains the faster option east of Olhão, and why plenty of locals still hug the old coastal road for the beaches and restaurants despite the traffic. If you're planning an eastern Algarve trip this summer, build in buffer time on peak Saturdays and consider basing yourself near a train station, since the regional rail line along the coast skips the worst of the road.
As for TAP, frequent flyers to Lisbon and the Azores or Madeira should keep an eye on how the Lufthansa stake plays out; loyalty programme changes and route decisions often follow ownership shifts, even if nothing changes overnight. None of this should put anyone off – the Algarve's beaches and Central Portugal's countryside aren't going anywhere. But a little planning around the potholes, literal and political, goes a long way.
