article_detail

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is embarking on a major investment programme worth €1.154 billion, with plans to expand its capacity and modernise its infrastructure to keep pace with rapidly growing passenger numbers.

 

The plans were unveiled at the Hosbec general assembly, held at the airport this week, where government officials and tourism industry representatives highlighted connectivity as a key driver of the province's economy.

 

Airport director Laura Navarro outlined a roadmap that kicks off with over €450 million of investment between 2027 and 2031, with the remainder to follow in the subsequent period.

 

The work will focus on expanding the terminal northwards, creating a new departure pier for non-Schengen flights, adding more airbridges and reorganising commercial aviation areas.

 

Parking facilities will be expanded, new taxi and bus drop-off areas created, and access roads redesigned to handle a greater volume of traffic.

 

The scale of the investment reflects the airport's remarkable growth. Passenger numbers are expected to hit well over 20 million in 2026, roughly double the 10 million recorded a decade ago, and that pressure on existing infrastructure is driving the urgency of the plans.

 

Ms Navarro confirmed that the funding will come from airport fees and that capacity simply has to be brought in line with demand.

 

Two new flight routes are also being added, with Eurowings restoring its connection to Hanover and Vueling launching a new service to Tangier, both operating twice weekly.

 

The president of the Alicante Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, used the occasion to press for better rail links, pointing out that millions of passengers currently rely on a single road access route to the airport, a situation he described as unsustainable given current traffic volumes.

 

Tourism employers' association president Fede Fuster echoed those concerns, calling for the completion of the Mediterranean Corridor and a rail connection to the airport.

 

Valencian Minister of Tourism Marián Cano, noting that international tourism spending in the region is expected to top €16 billion by 2025, said investment in airport and transport infrastructure needs to accelerate without delay.

 

 

Image: FoxR via Wikimedia Commons