Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is set for a busy few days as travellers make the most of Spain’s 12 October holiday weekend.
According to booking data from travel platform Kiwi.com, Alicante accounts for 10.5% of passengers in its analysis, making it the third-largest departure airport in Spain for the break.
Only Madrid, with 20.3%, and Barcelona, with 19.5%, have a larger share. Alicante narrowly beats Valencia at 10.2%, while Málaga accounts for 9.5%.
The figures cover bookings confirmed up to 6 October for passengers departing on 9 or 10 October and returning on 12 or 13 October.
Flight bookings jump by 129%
The long weekend is proving considerably more popular with air travellers than it was last year.
Kiwi.com’s bookings have increased by 129% compared with the equivalent period in 2025, while the number of passengers has risen by 132%.
That surge comes despite higher air fares.
The average ticket price in the company’s data stands at €166.50, an increase of 23.3% on last year.
Short-haul flights cost an average of 23.6% more, while medium-haul fares have risen by 24.2%.
Where is everyone going?
Spain itself is the most popular destination among the travellers included in the analysis.
Italy comes second, followed by the United Kingdom, France and Portugal.
Palma de Mallorca tops the city ranking, ahead of Rome and Ibiza. Barcelona, Budapest, Seville, Milan, Madrid, London and Bucharest complete the top ten.
Central and eastern European destinations are also attracting more bookings, while Morocco ranks as the leading destination outside Europe.
Spanish customers in the study have booked flights to 53 countries for the holiday period.
Two public holidays make a tempting getaway
The timing is particularly useful for people living in the Valencian Community.
Friday 9 October is the Día de la Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian Community Day), the region’s public holiday.
Monday 12 October is the Fiesta Nacional de España (Spain’s National Day), which is a nationwide public holiday.
For anyone able to bridge the gap between them, that creates the possibility of a four-day break from Friday to Monday.
Valencia has recorded a particularly dramatic increase in Kiwi.com’s figures, with passenger numbers up 231.5% compared with last year.
Its leading destinations are Seville, Rome, Budapest, Milan and Palma de Mallorca.
What about flights from Alicante?
The figures supplied for the study do not provide a separate ranking of the most popular destinations booked specifically from Alicante.
That means it would be misleading to assume that the national favourites are also Alicante Airport’s busiest destinations for the weekend.
What the data does show is the airport’s importance as a departure point. With 10.5% of passengers in the analysis starting their journeys in Alicante, it sits just behind Spain’s two giant hubs in Madrid and Barcelona.
And if you are heading to Alicante Airport yourself this weekend, it might be worth expecting plenty of company.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Alicante Airport accounts for 10.5% of passengers in Kiwi.com’s analysis of the 12 October break.
- That puts Alicante third among Spanish departure airports, behind Madrid and Barcelona.
- Bookings are up 129% compared with the equivalent period last year.
- Passenger numbers have increased by 132%.
- The average ticket price has risen 23.3% to €166.50.
- Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom are the three most popular destination countries.
- Friday 9 October is a public holiday in the Valencian Community, while Monday 12 October is a nationwide holiday.
Enjoy more Alicante-Elche Airport news.
