Alicante-Elche Airport has done it again. Another busy summer month has brought another passenger record, with more than 2.3 million people passing through the terminal during August.
A total of 2,337,378 passengers used Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport during the month, up 11.4% on August last year. The latest figures also put the airport firmly on course for another record-breaking year.
Almost 15 million passengers already this year
Between January and August, the airport handled 14,739,523 passengers. That is 9.9% more than during the same eight months of 2025.
Last year ended with an all-time record of around 19.9 million passengers. Alicante-Elche now needs just over five million more during the remaining four months of 2026 to pass that figure.
If the current trend continues, the airport could finish the year above 20 million passengers for the first time.
Aircraft movements are increasing too. The airport handled 14,069 flights during August, an increase of 11.7%. From January to August, it recorded 92,328 aircraft movements, up 10.1%.
British passengers remain number one
International travellers continue to dominate traffic at the Costa Blanca airport.
More than 2.08 million international passengers used the terminal in August, a rise of 12.3% compared with the same month last year.
The UK remained comfortably in first place, accounting for around 800,000 passengers during August alone. Germany followed with approximately 152,000, ahead of the Netherlands with 125,000 and Poland with 124,000.
Domestic traffic reached 251,109 passengers, an increase of 4.6%.
Alicante growing faster than Spain’s busiest airports
Alicante-Elche is not simply growing. It is currently expanding considerably faster than the Spanish airport network as a whole.
Passenger numbers across Aena’s Spanish airports increased by 4.7% in August, compared with Alicante-Elche’s 11.4% rise.
Among Spain’s five busiest airports, Alicante-Elche recorded the largest percentage increase. Madrid grew by 4.8%, Barcelona by 4.6%, Palma de Mallorca by 2.3% and Malaga by 6.6%.
Bigger airport planned for the years ahead
The record figures come as plans move forward for a major expansion of Alicante-Elche Airport.
The government has approved the latest airport investment programme, which includes an initial €868 million for expansion work at El Altet. The overall investment is currently estimated at €1.154 billion.
Plans include demolishing the old T1 and creating a new boarding pier as an extension of T2. Early estimates suggest the expanded airport could eventually handle at least 26 million passengers a year.
With passenger numbers still climbing at close to 10% this year, that extra capacity could become increasingly important for the Costa Blanca.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Alicante-Elche Airport handled 2,337,378 passengers in August.
- Passenger numbers rose 11.4% compared with August 2025.
- Almost 14.74 million passengers have used the airport so far this year.
- The airport is currently on course to beat its 2025 annual record.
- UK passengers remained the largest international market, with around 800,000 in August.
- Alicante-Elche grew faster than Spain’s other four busiest airports during August.
- Expansion plans include an initial investment of €868 million.
- The expanded airport could eventually handle at least 26 million passengers a year.
