Affordable air access to Portugal could soon improve after the Portuguese Ministry for Economy and Employment announced they are considering making the recently completed airport at Beja a hub for low-cost carriers.

Beja airport is located in Portugal’s rural Lower Alentejo region. Formerly a Luftwaffe training facility, work started on a passenger terminal at Beja before the global financial crisis reduced projected demand for flights to the region.

Since its completion in April 2011, Beja airport has come to be seen locally as something of a white elephant. The airport has only attracted minimal attention from charter airlines. Currently, the only flight between the UK and Beja is a summer-only service from Heathrow, operated by tour operator Sunvil Discovery.

If budget airlines can be persuaded to operate routes from the airport, a whole new market could emerge in second homes in the beautiful, rustic Alentejo. In terms of distance, Beja isn’t that far removed from other property hot spots. Lisbon is around two hours’ drive, and the Algarve around 90 minutes, making this part of the Alentejo ideal for those who want affordable seclusion that is still in reach of busier areas.

For details of property in Portugal, visit the Portuguese listings on Rightmove Overseas. One way to save money when buying in Portugal is to use a currency specialist when transferring your pounds into euros to complete the purchase of your property. For more information on this, contact Smart Currency Exchange.

To understand the full step-by-step process to buying a property in Portugal, collect The Overseas Guides Company’s ‘Portugal Property Buying Guide’