There must come a point when Alicante-Elche Airport stops breaking records. For the moment, though, it doesn’t appear to have reached it.
Another record month in July has pushed passenger numbers for the first seven months of 2026 beyond 12.4 million, putting the Costa Blanca airport firmly on course for the busiest year in its history.
According to the latest figures from airport operator Aena, passenger numbers between January and July were 9.6% higher than during the same period in 2025. The airport also handled almost 78,260 flights during those seven months, an increase of 10%.
And with five months of the year still to go, last year’s record is already looking increasingly vulnerable.
More than 2.3 million passengers in July
July brought another monthly record, with 2,341,007 passengers using Alicante-Elche Airport.
That was 11% more than in July 2025 and the highest monthly figure recorded so far this year.
International travellers continued to account for the vast majority of passengers. Almost 2.1 million people travelled on international services during July, up 11.6% compared with the same month last year.
Domestic traffic also increased, with more than 251,000 passengers using flights within Spain, a rise of 7.4%.
The airport handled 14,281 flights during July.
British passengers continue to lead the way
The UK remained comfortably the airport’s biggest international market during July, accounting for around 734,000 passengers.
Germany followed with approximately 144,000 passengers, while Poland accounted for around 125,000 and Belgium around 119,000.
The figures underline just how important international tourism remains to Alicante-Elche Airport and the wider Costa Blanca, with overseas passengers accounting for more than three-quarters of the airport’s traffic.
Another record year now looks likely
Alicante-Elche Airport came close to 20 million passengers in 2025, setting a new annual record.
But 2026 is already running well ahead of last year’s figures.
With more than 12.4 million passengers recorded by the end of July, the airport needs just over seven million more during the final five months of the year to match the 2025 total.
That works out at an average of around 1.4 million passengers a month.
On current figures, that looks very achievable. Passenger numbers have exceeded two million every month since May, and August and September, traditionally two of the busiest months on the Costa Blanca, are still to come.
Even if traffic slows later in the autumn, the airport has already built up a sizeable lead over last year.
How long can the growth continue?
Of course, records cannot keep falling indefinitely.
Passenger numbers at Alicante-Elche Airport have risen rapidly in recent years, and continued growth eventually raises questions about how much traffic the existing terminal and surrounding infrastructure can comfortably handle.
For now, however, there is little sign of demand slowing. Passenger numbers are up 9.6% this year and flights have increased by 10%, while July itself recorded double-digit growth.
So perhaps the question is no longer whether Alicante-Elche Airport will break its annual passenger record again in 2026.
It is how far beyond 20 million it will go.
