Alicante–Elche Airport
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| Alicante–Elche Airport | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Alicante–Elche Airport |
| Nativename | Aeropuerto de Alicante–Elche |
| Iata | ALC |
| Icao | LEAL |
| Type | Public |
| Owner | Aena |
| City-served | Alicante, Elche, Costa Blanca |
| Location | Elche, Province of Alicante |
| Elevation-f | 371 |
Alicante–Elche Airport is an international airport serving Alicante, Elche, and the Costa Blanca region of southeastern Spain. It is a major gateway for tourism to Valencian Community, connecting with numerous destinations across Europe, North Africa, and occasional long-haul services. The airport is operated by Aena and is one of the busiest facilities on the Mediterranean Sea coast, handling scheduled, charter, and low-cost carrier traffic for millions of passengers annually.
Overview
The airport lies near Elche and Muchamiel in the Province of Alicante, approximately 9 km southwest of Alicante (city), 12 km from Elche city center and within the Comunidad Valenciana. It features two parallel runways and a primary passenger terminal complex managed by Aena Aeropuertos. The facility serves as a focus city for carriers including Ryanair, Vueling, and Air Europa, and hosts seasonal charter operations from airlines based in United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, and Russia. Its catchment area includes popular destinations such as Benidorm, Torrevieja, Orihuela, and the Campo de Elche.
History
Origins date to airfields near El Altet used in the early 20th century and development accelerated after the Spanish National Exhibition of 1929 era. The airport opened for civil traffic in 1967 under the name El Altet, during a period of growth in Spanish tourism linked to the rise of package holidays and carriers like Iberia. Expansion phases in the 1970s and 1980s accommodated increasing flights from British Airways and continental operators such as Lufthansa and Air France. In the 1990s and 2000s the airport modernized terminals and infrastructure to cope with budget airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair and the liberalization measures stemming from the European Union aviation policy. Recent projects included runway extensions and a new control tower to meet safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization and European Aviation Safety Agency.
Facilities and Terminals
The airport complex comprises a main passenger terminal with multiple piers, a general aviation apron, cargo facilities, and two asphalt runways designated 10/28 and 03/21. Passenger services include check-in halls, security checkpoints, immigration zones for Schengen Area processing, baggage reclaim, retail outlets, and VIP lounges operated by carriers such as Iberia Regional and Air Nostrum. Ground handling is provided by companies like Swissport and Groundforce. Technical support and maintenance activities are carried out in adjacent hangars used by operators including Binter Canarias and private maintenance firms. The control tower and instrument landing systems conform to standards set by Eurocontrol and AENA Internacional.
Airlines and Destinations
The airport hosts a mix of full-service, low-cost, and charter airlines. Regular scheduled carriers include Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia Express, Air Europa, KLM, Transavia, Norwegian Air Shuttle, British Airways (seasonal), and TUI Airways offering connections to hubs like Madrid–Barajas Airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, London Gatwick Airport, Manchester Airport, Copenhagen Airport, Frankfurt Airport, and Brussels Airport. Charter operators serve holiday markets in Scandinavia, Central Europe, and Russia, linking to destinations such as Oslo Airport, Helsinki Airport, and Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport during peak seasons. Cargo services link with logistics hubs including Liège Airport and Frankfurt–Hahn Airport.
Ground Transportation and Access
Surface access includes road connections via the AP-7 and A-70 motorways, regional bus services operated by Costa Azul and municipal networks connecting to Alicante Tram and TRAM d'Alacant stations. Shuttle coaches run to Alicante city center, Elche railway station, and holiday resorts like Benidorm. Taxi services and private transfers serve passengers bound for destinations such as Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, and the Marjal area. Parking infrastructure includes short-term and long-term lots operated by Aena with inter-terminal shuttle options. Proposals for rail links have been discussed involving Renfe and regional authorities of the Valencian Community.
Statistics and Traffic
Pre-pandemic peak years saw passenger numbers rivaling other Spanish regional hubs, with traffic dominated by international tourism markets including United Kingdom, Germany, Scandinavia, and Netherlands. Annual movements include scheduled flights, seasonal charters, and general aviation, with cargo throughput supporting regional import-export activities in sectors linked to horticulture from the Vega Baja and Campo de Alicante—noting that agricultural terms are here used for context only. The airport’s traffic statistics are monitored by Aena and transport agencies within the Valencian Government which publish year-on-year passenger, movement, and freight figures.
Accidents and Incidents
Over its operational life the airport has experienced a limited number of incidents typical for busy regional airports. Notable occurrences involved aircraft technical faults, bird strikes, and emergency landings handled by emergency services coordinated with AENA Aeropuertos and local authorities including Protección Civil and Guardia Civil. Investigations have been conducted by the Spanish Civil Aviation Accident and Incident Investigation Commission and measures implemented in line with ICAO recommendations. No major aviation disasters on the scale of national tragedies have been recorded at the facility.
Category:Airports in the Valencian Community Category:Buildings and structures in the Province of Alicante