Air Invictus attracts a million people to Porto over weekend

The first edition of Air Invictus in Porto, which involved three days of stunning aerobatics, military flypasts, races over the Douro, music and exhibitions, had an “estimated audience” of around a million spectators, organisers said on Sunday, adding they couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.

Whether there is another edition; whether the event becomes a regular feature, is something that has yet to be decided from a municipal point of view.

Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte told Lusa yesterday: “As a first impression, I would say it was a highly fruitful weekend for the city and one with a positive outcome. It is clear that we will later conduct a more rigorous assessment of the impact of this initiative, starting with the number of people involved and also the economic impact on the city.”

The evaluation will be carried out jointly with the other municipalities and the event’s organizers, said Duarte.

Regarding a possible second edition, the mayor said it was too early to discuss, but acknowledged that it would be “very interesting” for the city. “We are hoping this concept becomes established and takes root,” he said.

Air Invictus led to several road closures in the city’s waterfront areas, and the mayor acknowledged disruption caused to residents and local businesses. “We cannot be insensitive to that fact, but at the same time it is very interesting to see the number of people who were able to come to this area by walking, cycling or using other forms of sustainable mobility, and the fact that the city continues to function,” he added.

For Pedro Duarte, these moments are valuable because they help people realise that “we do not need cars as much as we sometimes think we do.”

“In conversations I had over the last few minutes, there were two instances where people told me they had come here by bicycle and were themselves surprised by how enjoyable it was, because it was a new experience. If these events also help change people’s habits, that is another positive effect,” he said.

The programme for Air Invictus officially closes today with a “conference dedicated to the future of aviation, aerospace, defence, technological innovation and sustainable air mobility” at the Alfândega Auditorium in Porto.

Sources: LUSA/ Jornal de Negócios

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.