Arriving at Alicante Airport
If you are planning to fly to Alicante, you may want to know a little bit about the airport before you travel. Read on to find out what you can expect on your arrival at Alicante Airport.
Alicante Airport Terminal Building
Alicante Airport only has one terminal, which makes it easy to find your way around. The airport originally opened in 1967, but the current terminal building is relatively new and has only been in operation since 2011. The arrivals area is located on the ground floor of the building.
Once you have landed at Alicante Airport, depending on your aircraft’s parking position, you will enter the terminal building via one of the air bridges or you may be taken there by shuttle bus. Once inside the terminal, finding your way is easy, as the building is well-signposted. If you need assistance getting around, you must inform your airline in advance. Please also see our Disability Assistance page for more information.
Passport Control on Arrival
Arrivals from Schengen countries can make their way straight to the baggage reclaim area and exit. Passengers who have flown in from outside the Schengen area will need to head to passport control. It is important to familiarise yourself with the entry requirements to Spain in good time before you travel, to ensure that you have the correct documentation. See here for more information.
E-gates
In addition to the staffed booths at border control, Alicante Airport also has e-gates. You can use these if you are aged 18 or over, and are instructed to do so by airport staff. However, do make sure that your passport gets stamped by an immigration officer. The stamp shows when you arrived in Spain – without this, you may have problems at border control when you leave.
EES – Entry/Exit System
The launch of this new computerised border control system for third-country nationals has already been postponed several times. See our EES page for more information.
Baggage Reclaim at Alicante Airport
Once you have cleared passport control if you have luggage to collect, follow the signs to the baggage reclaim area. Check the monitors to find out which luggage belt delivers the bags from your flight. There are plenty of luggage trolleys, which are available free of charge if needed.
Alicante Airport Customs
Now, all you have to do is clear customs. There are several different options. If you have arrived from another European Union country, you can use the blue channel.
If you have travelled from outside the European Union and you have nothing to declare, you can use the green channel. Proceeding through the green channel is viewed as a declaration that you are not carrying any goods that exceed the duty-free allowance or are otherwise prohibited. Customs officers have the right to carry out spot checks and can issue hefty fines if you carry goods that should have been declared.
If you have goods to declare you will need to use the red channel. You should also use this channel if you are uncertain and want to check some of the goods you are carrying with a customs officer. You can find more information about the type of goods that need to be declared on the European Commission website.
Duty-Free
There is a small Duty-Free shop in the arrivals area, where you can purchase a selection of perfumes, cosmetics, alcoholic drinks and tobacco products at reduced prices between the hours of 7 am and 10 pm.
Public Arrivals Hall
Once you have walked through one of the customs channels, you will enter the public arrivals hall. This is where friends, relatives, tour guides or transfer drivers will be able to meet you. Here, you will also find car hire desks, cash machines and some food outlets, in case you are hungry from the journey.
Public Transport for Onward Travel
If you are planning to use public transport for your onward journey, there are bus stops as well as a taxi rank right outside the arrivals hall. There is no direct train or tram connection at Alicante Airport.
Health Information for Travellers to Alicante Airport
Mpox
The Spanish Ministry of Health highlights the following information for travellers arriving from Central Africa or countries with detected cases:
- You should not travel if you have symptoms compatible with mpox
- If you have been exposed to a person with mpox, consult a doctor even if you have no symptoms
- Do not carry dead animals, meat or other foodstuffs in your luggage as they can carry diseases
If on your return you have any symptoms compatible with mpox, contact a doctor as soon as possible and, if necessary, call 112. The most frequent symptoms are:
- Skin rash anywhere on the body (including mouth, anus, genitals, face, etc.)
- Fever, headache, muscle pain or tiredness
- Inflammation of the lymph nodes.