About Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC)

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (IATA: ALC, ICAO: LEAL) is the principal gateway to the Costa Blanca, one of Europe's most visited leisure coastlines, and the busiest airport in the Valencian Community. Located approximately nine kilometres southwest of Alicante city centre in the municipality of L'Altet, it is Spain's fifth-busiest airport and handled a record 18.38 million passengers in 2024, representing a 16.8 per cent increase on the previous year. The airport takes its full name from Miguel Hernández, the poet born in Orihuela in the province of Alicante.

The airport is managed by Aena, the Spanish airports operator, and serves both the southern part of the Valencian Community and the broader Region of Murcia. Up to 80 per cent of all passenger flights are international, reflecting the airport's overwhelmingly leisure-driven passenger mix. The largest volume of arrivals comes from the United Kingdom, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Norway and Sweden. The airport is a major base for Ryanair, which had eighteen aircraft stationed here as of summer 2025, as well as for easyJet, Vueling and Norwegian Air Shuttle.

The single operating terminal, Terminal NAT (Nueva Área Terminal), opened in March 2011, replacing the previous two terminal buildings. With a floor area of approximately 333,500 square metres, it has a design capacity of 20 million passengers per year, making it well sized for current volumes. Plans to reopen one of the old terminal buildings to further expand capacity have been discussed but no firm date has been announced. A rail link to connect the airport directly to the Spanish high-speed rail network and the regional Cercanías system is planned for 2030, which would significantly improve surface access.

Information:

Layout

Terminal NAT operates on four floors, with the main passenger areas divided between three of them. Arrivals are handled on the lower level, with baggage reclaim belts and customs exit leading to the main arrivals hall on the ground floor, where ground transport connections, car hire desks and meeting areas are located. Check-in and departures are on the upper level, where the main check-in hall opens to the security checkpoint and the airside departure concourse. The airside area is divided into gate zones B and C, with Schengen flights typically using gates B and non-Schengen flights using gates C. The two gate areas are connected airside and the walk between them takes approximately five to seven minutes following overhead signage.

Check-In

Check-in desks are located on the upper floor of the terminal. Self-service kiosks and bag drop facilities are available for passengers who have completed online check-in. The recommended arrival time is at least two hours before departure for European and domestic flights. During peak summer months, particularly July and August, the check-in hall and security queues can be significant, and arriving two and a half hours before departure is advisable.

Security

Security screening is located on the upper floor after check-in, leading to the airside departure concourse. Standard EU security procedures apply. Alicante is a high-volume leisure airport and security queues can be very long during weekend peak departures in summer. Passengers on early-morning Saturday and Sunday departures in July and August should arrive with ample time before the standard two-hour minimum. A FastTrack security lane is available for purchase via the Aena website and provides access to a priority security channel.

Information Desk

Airport information desks are located at the check-in area and in the departures area.

Website:

http://www.aena.es

Driving directions:

The airport is well connected by road. From central Alicante, the N-332 coastal road leads to the N-338, which has a direct turnoff for the airport. From the north, the E-15 motorway south from Benidorm leads onto the A-70 ring road with airport signs clearly posted. From Murcia and the south, the A-7 provides straightforward access. A dedicated drop-off zone and short-stay car park are located immediately adjacent to the terminal. There is no toll on the main access roads to the airport.

Public Transport

Public transport road:

Bus: The primary public transport connection between Alicante Airport and the city is the C-6 bus service operated by Vectalia/Subús, running approximately every 20 to 30 minutes throughout the day with services departing from directly opposite the arrivals hall. The journey to Alicante central bus station takes around 20 to 30 minutes at a fare of approximately €3.85. A selection of regional bus services also depart from the airport, providing connections to destinations along the Costa Blanca including Benidorm, Elche, Murcia and Torrevieja. Schedules and routes should be verified in advance as some services are seasonal.

Taxi and Ride-Hailing: Official taxis are available from the rank in front of the arrivals hall. A metered journey to Alicante city centre takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes and typically costs in the region of €20 to €25. Pre-bookable taxi services are available from local operators for early-morning departures. Uber and Cabify both operate in Alicante and can be booked via their apps from the designated pick-up zones, with fares broadly comparable to metered taxis.

Terminal facilities

Money:

Currency exchange desks and ATMs are available both in the landside arrivals area and airside in the departure zone. Rates at airport exchange points are typically less favourable than in the city centre. Passengers are advised to carry euros for any purchases within the terminal, as cash is commonly requested by smaller vendors.

Food:

A Wetherspoon pub operates airside, one of the few at a Spanish airport, popular with UK-bound passengers. A range of cafés, bars and fast-food outlets is distributed across the departure concourse, with several options serving Spanish cuisine and the standard international range. Seating is spread throughout the departure area and most food outlets are accessible without a significant walk from any gate zone. Landside, a café and bar area in the arrivals hall is accessible to all visitors.

Shopping:

The airside departure area contains a World Duty Free zone offering perfumes, cosmetics, spirits, tobacco, confectionery and food. Additional retail outlets include a WHSmith-equivalent newsagent, souvenir shops, fashion accessories, jewellery and electronics. A range of local food and wine products is available, providing practical last-minute gift options for departing visitors. The overall retail offer is well stocked for a leisure airport serving a predominantly tourist market.

Luggage:

A lost property office (tel: +34 966 919 223) is situated on the ground floor. There is no left-luggage facility at Alicante Airport.

Other:

Lounges

Alicante Airport has a single passenger lounge in the airside departure area, the Sala VIP Costa Blanca, operated by Aena. It is accessible to all departing passengers regardless of airline or class, either through a day-pass purchase via the Aena website, lounge membership programmes such as Priority Pass or DragonPass, or select airline status. The lounge offers comfortable seating, complimentary food and beverages, free Wi-Fi, flight information screens, charging points and work areas. Given the high volume of passengers using this airport, particularly at peak weekend periods in summer, advance booking of the lounge is recommended to secure access.

Other

Other facilities at Alicante Airport include a 24-hour first aid service, a pharmacy, and a number of tour operator desks.

Airport facilities

Conference and business:

A meeting room is available for hire on the terminal's ground floor, and there is a VIP lounge in the boarding area offering Internet access and refreshments. More extensive meeting and conference facilities are available in the region's hotels – the nearest such facilities are at the Hotel Areca (tel: +34 965 685 477;www.hotelareca.es), located about 2km (1.6 miles) from the airport.

Communication Facilities:

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Terminal NAT via the Airport Free WiFi Aena network. Connection requires registration via email or social media. The service is unlimited in duration and is suitable for general browsing and messaging throughout the terminal.

Disabled facilities:

Terminal NAT is fully accessible, with ramps, lifts and accessible toilets throughout all levels. A designated drop-off zone for passengers with mobility difficulties is located close to the main terminal entrance. The Sin Barreras (Without Barriers) assistance service provides support for passengers requiring wheelchair assistance or other help, from the terminal entrance through to the aircraft. Passengers requiring assistance should notify their airline at least 48 hours before travel.

Car parking:

Alicante Airport provides several parking options, with the main car park P1 located directly across from the terminal and connected by a covered walkway. Long-stay parking is situated further from the terminal and is served by regular shuttle buses. Pre-booking online via the Aena website at www.aena.es provides substantially lower rates than turning up without a reservation and is strongly recommended for stays of more than a day. Disabled parking spaces are available close to the terminal entrance. Paid drop-off zones operate on the terminal forecourt for brief set-downs.

Car rental:

All major car hire companies are represented in the arrivals hall, including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Enterprise, Sixt, Goldcar and Budget. Car hire is the most common way for visitors to the Costa Blanca to travel from the airport, given the absence of a rail link and the dispersed nature of accommodation along the coast. Pre-booking online well in advance, particularly for summer periods, is essential to secure preferred vehicle types and competitive rates.