Roberta Aguirre
Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is an international airport located about 9km (5.6 miles) southwest of the city of Alicante in Spain. It is the busiest airport in south-eastern Spain, serving the southern Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia. The airport has undergone several changes over the years, including terminal renovations and airline shifts. In 2024, it handled 18.38 million passengers, a significant increase from previous years, with Ryanair, EasyJet, and Vueling being the top carriers. The airport provides various facilities for travellers, including shops, lounges, and transport options. However, it has also experienced flight delays and cancellations, with passengers seeking compensation for disruptions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airport Name | Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport |
| IATA Code | ALC |
| ICAO Code | LEAL |
| Location | 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Alicante, Spain |
| Yearly Passenger Traffic | 18.3 million (2024) |
| Busiest Day of Operations | 23 July 2016 (347 flights, ~58,000 passengers) |
| Bus Service | Line C6 to Alicante city centre |
| Taxi Services | Available at the arrival area |
| Car Rental | Available near the arrival area |
| Terminals | 1 terminal in public use (Terminal NAT) |
| Leading Airlines | Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling, Norwegian Air Shuttle |
| Yearly Flights | 25,876 scheduled flights (2023) |
| Yearly Flight Cancellations | 398 (2023) |
| Yearly Flight Delays | 198 (2023) |
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What You'll Learn
The airport's name change
The airport, located about 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of the city of Alicante and about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the city of Elche, opened on 4 May 1967, replacing the older aerodrome La Rabassa that had served the city since 1936. It was originally named El Altet airport, after the area in Elche's countryside where it was built.
On 12 July 2013, the name of the airport was officially changed from Aeropuerto de Alicante to Aeropuerto de Alicante–Elche, following a historical petition from Elche to include the city's name in the official title. The IATA airport code remained unchanged as ALC.
In 2021, the airport was renamed again, becoming the Aeropuerto de Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández. This was to mark the 110th anniversary of the birth of Spanish poet and playwright Miguel Hernández.
Today, Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is the busiest airport in south-eastern Spain, serving both the southern Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia. It is the largest airport in the Valencian Community, the 5th busiest airport in Spain, and the 31st busiest in Europe.
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Passenger traffic and records
Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is an international airport located about 9 km (5.6 miles) southwest of Alicante, Spain. It is the busiest airport in south-eastern Spain and serves both the southern Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia.
Passenger traffic has increased significantly in the 2010s, beating its own yearly record from 2013 to 2019. In 2015, the number of passengers increased by 5.1% to 10,574,484. The airport registered its busiest day of operations on 23 July 2016, handling 347 flights and about 58,000 passengers. In 2018, traveller traffic was 14 million passengers. In 2024, the airport set a new record, reaching 18.38 million passengers, an increase of 16.8% compared to 2023.
Historically, Iberia was the leading airline at the airport until 2003. With the decline of conventional airlines, low-cost EasyJet took the lead in 2004. In 2007, Ryanair, the largest European low-cost airline, established a base at Alicante and has since become one of the leading carriers at the airport. In 2023, Ryanair was the largest carrier at the airport, followed by EasyJet, Vueling, and Norwegian Air Shuttle.
In 2005, construction began on a new terminal to accommodate the airport's continuous passenger growth. Terminal NAT officially opened on 23 March 2011, replacing the previous two terminals. Terminals 1 and 2 have remained closed but structurally intact, with speculation that they may reopen in the future.
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Airlines operating at the airport
Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) is an international airport located about 9 km (5.6 mi) southwest of Alicante and about 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Elche in Spain. It is the busiest airport in south-eastern Spain, serving both the southern Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia.
The airport is a base for several airlines, including Air Nostrum, EasyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, Ryanair, and Vueling. Ryanair, the largest low-cost airline in Europe, established a base at Alicante in 2007 and has since become one of the leading carriers at the airport. In 2015, Ryanair carried the largest number of passengers (2,992,984), followed by EasyJet (1,285,221) and Vueling (1,093,494). Norwegian Air Shuttle, with 893,319 passengers, was a distant fourth.
Historically, until 2003, Iberia was the leading airline at the airport. However, with the decline of conventional airlines, low-cost carrier EasyJet took the lead in 2004. In June 2006, Avianca commenced a weekly flight from Bogotá to Barcelona, with a stop in Alicante, becoming the city's first transatlantic service. Unfortunately, this service ended in 2008 when Spanish authorities granted Avianca permission to operate the flight non-stop in both directions.
In total, 32 airlines operate flights from Alicante to 177 airports worldwide, as of May 2025. Some of these airlines include Aer Lingus, Air Algerie, Air Baltic, Air Europa, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, Iberia, Jet2, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian Air, Ryanair, SAS, Swiss, TAP Portugal, Volotea, Wizz Air, and many more.
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Cancelled or delayed flights
The Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is an international airport located about 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southwest of Alicante, Spain. It is the busiest airport in south-eastern Spain, serving both the southern Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia.
In 2023, the airport had a total of 25,876 scheduled flights. Of these, 398 flights were cancelled, representing 1.54% of the total number of scheduled flights. Additionally, 198 flights were delayed, accounting for 0.76% of the total. There were 532 incidents, which made up 2.06% of all departing flights.
Passengers who experience flight cancellations or delays at the Alicante–Elche airport may be eligible for compensation. The European regulation provides for compensations between €250 and €600. It is possible to use an online calculator to determine eligibility and the amount of compensation within minutes.
The Minimum Connection Time (MCT) at the airport is an important factor to consider when booking flights with connections. At Alicante–Elche Airport, the MCT for domestic flights is 30 minutes, while it is 45 minutes for both domestic-to-international and international-to-international connections.
The airport has a range of facilities to accommodate passengers during long layovers or delays. The Costa Blanca VIP Lounge, located between Gates B and C, offers a comfortable setting with food and beverages, WiFi, relaxation spaces, and showers. This lounge is typically open from 6:00 AM to midnight, with extended hours during the summer months.
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Arrivals and pick-ups
Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is located about 9 km (5.6 miles) southwest of the city of Alicante and 10 km (6.2 miles) east of Elche in Spain. It is the busiest airport in south-eastern Spain and serves the southern Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia. The airport is accessible by bus, taxi, and private car via automobile road N-338.
When arriving at the airport, passengers will be led directly to the baggage claim area. In the event of missing luggage, there are several baggage claim counters available to fill out a form and initiate an investigation. After collecting baggage and passing through customs, passengers will exit the inner security area, where individuals picking them up will typically wait. Alicante Airport has only one arrival door, making it easy to navigate.
For those being picked up, it is helpful to refer to the Alicante airport arrivals page, which provides real-time arrival times for all incoming flights. This ensures that you can plan your arrival at the airport accordingly and avoid unnecessary waiting.
If you are picking someone up and wish to wait inside the airport, airport lounges offer a comfortable setting with amenities such as food, beverages, WiFi, relaxation spaces, and showers. The Costa Blanca VIP Lounge, located between Gates B and C in the departures area, is one such option. It is open from 6:00 am to midnight during the summer months and from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm in the winter. The lounge access fee is 33 EUR.
Alicante Airport offers various transportation options for arriving passengers. For those seeking bus transportation, there are charter buses and ordinary buses available. Charter buses from tour providers such as Tui, Shuttledirect, and Hoppa can be reached by taking the elevator and following the BUS signs. For ordinary buses to destinations like Alicante Downtown, Benidorm, Torrevieja, or Elche, do not follow the BUS signs. Instead, refer to the bus stops located on the departures roadway. Bus line "C6" connects to Alicante city centre and passes through the Alicante Bus Station, Port of Alicante, and Alicante Railway Station.
Taxi services are also available at the airport, providing convenient transportation to the city centre or other destinations. Additionally, car rental services are accessible within walking distance of the arrival area, allowing passengers to pick up a vehicle upon arrival.
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Frequently asked questions
The full name of the airport is Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport.
There is currently only one terminal in use, Terminal NAT (Nueva Área Terminal). Terminals 1 and 2 have been closed since 2011 but are still structurally intact.
You can take the Line C6 bus to the city centre of Alicante in around 20 minutes. To get to the centre of Elche, take Line 1A, which takes around 50 minutes.
There are several duty-free shops, a WHSmith, Weekend by MaxMara, InMotion, and LOL Kids.
You may be entitled to compensation. Check with an online calculator to see if your delay or cancellation is eligible.
