The LUS222, a 19-seat light regional aircraft, will be the first fully developed and industrialized aircraft in Portugal. Production will take place at the Ponte de Sor Municipal Aerodrome, starting in 2026. The assembly line is expected to create between 150 and 300 qualified jobs.
The Ponte de Sor City Council has announced that the deed for the surface rights to the land, where the factory will be built, will be signed on Thursday. This marks a key step in the creation of Portugal's first aircraft assembly line, which will focus on the LUS222.
The LUS222 will feature 19 seats, a cargo capacity of 2,000 kilos, and a 2,000-kilometer range. The engineering for the aircraft is already underway in Évora. According to Miguel Braga from the Engineering and Development Center (CEiiA), one of the consortium members, the project has an estimated investment of around €100 million.
The factory is expected to cover an area of 35,000 square meters, with a 18,000-square-meter covered area. In addition to aircraft production, the facility will also include training programs to qualify workers for the aeronautical industry.
This project is part of the Aero.Next Portugal mobilizing agenda, which also includes the development of the UAS ARX, an unmanned aircraft designed by Tekever, to be produced at the same aerodrome.
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