Alicante-Elche Airport Set for Record Growth and Major Investment
Thursday, October 16th, 2025
Alicante-Elche Airport Set for Record Growth and Major Investment
Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers
Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is on track to reach a new milestone in 2025, with forecasts suggesting it will exceed 20 million passengers for the first time in its history. Between January and September 2025, the airport handled over 15.3 million travellers, an 8.7% increase compared with the same period last year.
This growth was driven almost entirely by international tourism. In September alone, Alicante Airport recorded its busiest month ever, welcoming 1.68 million international passengers, up 8% year on year. Domestic traffic, by contrast, fell by the same percentage. The United Kingdom remains by far the airport’s largest market, followed by Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and France.
Ryanair Expands Its Winter Operations
The low-cost airline Ryanair has announced an ambitious winter 2025/26 schedule for Alicante, with plans to increase capacity by 12% and offer 3.4 million seats across 79 routes to 22 countries. The schedule includes ten new winter routes, nine of which extend existing summer services.
Among the highlights is the return of the Bratislava route, which will operate year-round with four weekly flights. Other additions include extensions to Bydgoszcz (Poland), Linz and Salzburg (Austria), and new winter services to Aberdeen and Cardiff (UK), Stockholm Västeras and Smaland (Sweden), Lanzarote, and Rzeszow (Poland).
To support the expanded network, Ryanair will base 16 aircraft at Alicante, one of which has been relocated from Santiago de Compostela. The airline will also increase frequencies on popular routes such as Budapest, Milan, Marrakech, Edinburgh, Brussels, London-Stansted, and Manchester.
International Tourism Boosts the Region
The rise in international air traffic is also having a strong impact on the local economy. According to Toni Pérez, President of the Alicante Provincial Council, over 90% of foreign visitors to the province arrive via Alicante-Elche Airport. He highlighted that the record passenger volumes are creating stable local jobs, stimulating tourism spending, and strengthening the regional business ecosystem.
Ryanair’s continued presence, along with its low-cost operating model, has played a key role in enhancing Alicante’s connectivity and supporting the year-round tourism market. The airline’s growth helps combat seasonality and ensures a steady flow of visitors even in the low season, directly benefiting hotels, restaurants, and local businesses.
A Historic Investment Plan — but with Political Uncertainty
In September this year, the Spanish government announced a €1.154 billion investment to modernise Alicante Airport, the largest airport development project in Spain’s history. The plan includes expanding the existing terminal, upgrading the old terminal building, and constructing a new taxiway to increase capacity and prevent congestion.
However, there is uncertainty surrounding the project’s timeline. The left-wing political party Podemos has threatened to block the Sustainable Mobility Bill, the legislation needed to authorise the airport works. Without the bill’s approval, the long-awaited investment could face delays.
What This Means for Passengers
For travellers, these developments signal improved connectivity and more flight options, especially during the winter months. Alicante-Elche Airport continues to grow as a key gateway to the Costa Blanca, serving millions of tourists from across Europe each year.
While the airport’s future expansion looks promising, passengers and local businesses alike will be watching closely to see whether Spain’s political debate over the Sustainable Mobility Bill affects the pace of progress on this historic modernisation programme.
We will continue to monitor developments closely and will publish updates on any changes to Alicante Airport’s expansion and investment plans, so be sure to return to our website regularly to stay informed.