Alicante Airport: Complete Guide


Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is the fourth busiest airport on the Iberian Peninsula, surpassed only by Madrid, Barcelona, and Málaga. At the European level, it ranks among the 40 busiest airports.

Its main destinations are concentrated in Northern Europe, due to the sizeable resident populations of British, Dutch, German, Norwegian, and Belgian nationals in the area. The airport is also an important hub for business travelers, thanks to commercial and industrial activity in eastern Spain.

This airport primarily serves Alicante province—home to over two million residents—as well as southern Valencia and the Murcia region.

alicante airport

History and Name

Originally known as El Altet Airport, it was officially renamed in 2021 to honor Orihuela-born poet Miguel Hernández, on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of his birth.

Location and Access

The airport is strategically positioned between the cities of Alicante and Elche, about 10 km from each. It is also close to the villages of El Altet and Torrellano, located less than 2 km away.

Highway A-70 offers easy access to the airport and connects it with the AP-7 and A-7 motorways, linking Valencia, Alicante, and Murcia.

How to Get There

Currently, there is no direct rail link to the airport, although this is frequently requested. However, there is an extensive bus network connecting the airport to the main cities and towns:

  • Line C-6: Runs to the city of Alicante every 20 minutes, around the clock.
  • Line 1A: Connects the airport with Elche and Torrellano.
  • Alsa: Provides frequent service to tourist destinations such as Benidorm, Calpe, Denia, Torrevieja, and Murcia.

Additionally, taxi and private transfer services are available.

Parking

The airport has three official parking areas, managed by Aena:

  • General Parking: Suitable for short stays (€1.5 per hour).
  • Long-Stay Parking: Ideal for extended trips.
  • Express Parking: For passenger drop-off and pick-up; first 10 minutes are free.

There are also low-cost parking options near the airport that offer direct shuttle service to the terminal.

Airlines and Destinations

Alicante-Elche Airport handles domestic and international flights to over 100 destinations in 25 countries. Some of the most popular destinations include:

Domestic:

  • Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Tenerife, among others.

International:

  • United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and more.

Leading carriers include Ryanair, Vueling, Iberia, Lufthansa, EasyJet, and Air Europa.

Statistics and Data

Since 2000, the airport has seen consistent growth in passenger traffic, reaching more than 15.7 million travelers in 2023. The majority of passengers are British (5 million), followed by Dutch, German, and Norwegian nationals.

Annual Passenger Traffic:

  • 2010: 9,382,935
  • 2015: 10,575,288
  • 2019: 15,047,840
  • 2023: 15,747,678

Contact Information

  • Official Name: Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport
  • Address: Av. de l’Altet, 03195 Elche, Alicante
  • Coordinates: 38.287516, -0.553481
  • Phone: +34 913211000
  • Email: alcinfo@aena.es
  • Official Website: aena.es