Alicante-Elche Airport continues to expand ahead of next summer, with Central Europe emerging as its fastest growing market.
Following Ryanair’s recent announcement of new routes to Saarbrücken and Friedrichshafen in Germany, Swiss Airlines has joined in by adding flights to Geneva, a destination previously served only by easyJet during the summer season.
Another new route taking off is Bratislava, now operated by Ryanair and soon to be joined by Wizz Air. The latest addition comes from Austrian Airlines, which will return to Alicante after more than two decades with a direct connection to Vienna, the Austrian capital.
Austrian market on the rise at Alicante-Elche Airport
The Austrian market is showing strong growth at Alicante Airport. Last summer, Ryanair introduced flights to Salzburg and Linz, both of which exceeded expectations and have continued into the current winter season.
According to data from airport operator Aena, between January and September 2025 a total of 113,185 passengers travelled between Alicante and Austria, a 51% increase compared to the same period last year. More than half of these passengers flew to or from Vienna, confirming its position as the leading Austrian destination for Alicante travellers.
Until now, Ryanair was the only airline offering a Vienna route, with five weekly flights. Austrian Airlines will strengthen this connection by adding two weekly flights, providing greater flexibility and meeting the growing demand between both cities.
Flight Schedule
The new service will begin at the start of the summer season on Wednesday, 29 March.
From Alicante:
- Wednesdays: Depart 10:50, arrive in Vienna 13:40.
- Fridays: Depart 11:20, arrive in Vienna 14:10.
From Vienna:
- Wednesdays: Depart 07:10, arrive in Alicante 10:00.
- Fridays: Depart 07:40, arrive in Alicante 10:30.
Commitment to Spain
Austrian Airlines’ investment in Alicante is part of a wider strategy to strengthen its presence in Spain, one of its top markets during both summer and winter seasons.
In its latest winter schedule, the airline highlighted a “strong focus on the Spanish market”, adding five extra flights to Málaga, three to Barcelona, four to Valencia, and twelve additional services to Mallorca.
