"I welcome this decision because it seems to me to be the one that best serves the interests of Portugal, the national interests," Augusto Marques told Lusa news agency, following the announcement of the location of Lisbon's new airport at the Air Force Firing Range, in the municipality of Benavente. The Air Force Firing Range, also known as the Alcochete Firing Range (due to its proximity to this urban centre), is mostly located in the parish of Samora Correia, in the municipality of Benavente (district of Santarém), with a small part in the parish of Canha, in the municipality of Montijo (district of Setúbal). The Ribatejo municipality of Benavente, with an area of approximately 521 square kilometres, is on the border of the district of Santarém with the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (AML) and less than half an hour from the entrance to Lisbon. The mayor, elected by the CDU, said that he aspired for "the decision [that came to be made] to revert to the parish of Samora Correia, but also that it would be the best solution for the country", now considering that "the best decision was made". "This will be a very important infrastructure for the parish and also for the entire region," he said. Augusto Marques recalled that, despite being known as the Alcochete Firing Range, the Air Force Firing Range is located in the parish of Samora Correia, in the municipality of Benavente, district of Santarém. "The country has been in need of a new airport for several years now, with good conditions, that would meet the current needs of population movement, between work and leisure," he added. Hoping that the project "now moves forward at the normal speed of this type of undertaking", the mayor estimated that the airport could be operational within a decade and that it would be designated as the new Lisbon airport, in Samora Correia and Canha, the parishes where it will be located. The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, announced today that the Government has approved the construction of the new airport for the Lisbon region at the Firing Range in Alcochete, following the recommendation of the Independent Technical Commission (CTI). "The Government has decided to approve the development of the new Lisbon airport with a view to completely replacing Humberto Delgado Airport at the Alcochete Firing Range and to give it the name Luís de Camões Airport," revealed Luís Montenegro, in a statement to the country, after an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, this afternoon. Read Also: Airport operating in Alcochete "will be reasonable" within 10 years (Portuguese version)