The UK remains the top source of arrivals, with more than 580.000 passengers, followed by the Netherlands (110.000), Germany (97.000), Belgium (87.000), and Poland (86.000). These figures highlight Alicante’s importance as a hub for Northern and Eastern Europe.
The most popular Airlines are Ryanair, Jet2, easyJet, and Vueling, which offer direct connections to key cities like London, Manchester, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brussels. The 8% increase in flights in April suggests that not only are more passengers flying, but more routes and additional frequencies have been added in 2025.
New routes and more seasonal services launched this year should play an important role to sustain and increase this growth. At present North America and Asia are still underrepresented in Alicante’s network, but demand has increased from Scandinavia, Canada, and Eastern Europe.
Alicante’s proximity to popular destinations in the Costa Blanca (Benidorm, Altea, Calpe, Moraira, Javea, Torrevieja etc.) make it a natural entry point for millions of tourists. The broader recovery of international travel post-pandemic has also played a major role. Many European travellers seek affordable, warm-weather destinations within short-haul range, and Alicante fits the bill perfectly.
The ripple effect of this surge in airport traffic can be seen across the Costa Blanca. Hotels, holiday rentals, restaurants, and local services have all experienced increased bookings and demand. This growth also helps local employment in tourism, transport, airport operations, and associated industries.
It’s also important to note that Alicante Airport is no longer just a seasonal hub, it’s now a year-round engine of economic activity for the region.
So far, operations at the airport have kept pace with growth, with no major delays or baggage handling issues reported. However, with over 5.4 million passengers in the first four months of 2025 (a 12% increase compared to 2024) there are questions are about long-term capacity.
There are currently no confirmed expansion projects, but upgrades may be required if growth continues through the summer and into 2026.
How Does Alicante Compare to Other Spanish Airports?
Among Aena’s network of 46 Spanish airports, Alicante is one of the fastest-growing, outperforming the national average of 6% year-on-year growth in April. While it won’t overtake Madrid-Barajas or Barcelona-El Prat anytime soon, Alicante is firmly established as a top-tier tourism gateway, especially for international leisure travellers.
If the current trends continue, Alicante-Elche Airport is on track to close 2025 with its highest annual passenger total ever. For 2026, we can expect an increased focus on new long-haul routes, potential terminal upgrades, and stronger promotion to North American, Eastern Europe and Asian markets.
It’s clear that Alicante Province is not just a sun-and-sea destination, it has become one of Europe’s most important air travel and economic hubs.
