Vueling is giving Alicante-Elche Airport a serious summer boost in 2026, underlining just how important the Costa Blanca has become on its route map.
Vueling has announced more than 1.6 million seats from Alicante-Elche Airport for the summer season. This is an 18% increase compared to summer 2025, with 16 routes in total, nine of them international.
Behind the headline figures is a mix of strengthened routes, brand-new connections and the addition of an extra aircraft based in Alicante. Together, they will allow Vueling to expand both its domestic and international services.
Stronger international links
International connectivity is where the growth is most visible. One of the standout increases is the Alicante to Amsterdam route. It will grow by around 28% compared to summer 2025. The route will offer around 212,000 seats, adding four extra weekly frequencies and reaching up to three flights a day.
London Gatwick is also getting a significant upgrade. Capacity on this route will rise by approximately 24%. 131,000 seats available over the summer and a total of 13 weekly flights. Brussels will see a more modest but still notable 9% increase, operating up to 11 flights a week. The Paris Orly route will grow by 4%, reaching three daily services.
Vueling will also continue to operate its Alicante to Cardiff route.
North Africa is another area of focus. From its Alicante base, Vueling is increasing capacity to both Oran and Algiers. There will be up to seven and nine weekly flights respectively. Looking ahead to summer 2026, the airline is also launching new routes to Tangier in Morocco and Constantine in Algeria, further expanding Alicante’s connections across the Mediterranean.
Domestic routes on the rise
Growth is not limited to international travel. Within Spain, Vueling is continuing to build up its domestic network from Alicante. The recently launched Alicante to Santander route, which began last October, will operate throughout the summer with two weekly flights and more than 27,000 seats.
The Alicante to Bilbao connection is set to become one of the fastest-growing domestic routes, reaching close to 148,000 seats. Meanwhile, flights to Tenerife North will increase capacity by 19%, offering nearly 83,000 seats over the summer season.
Routes to Ibiza and Gran Canaria will each grow by around 10%, while services to Barcelona and Mallorca will be maintained. In total, Alicante will be directly connected to 16 destinations, linking the province with mainland Spain, the islands, key European cities and North Africa.
Part of a wider expansion
The expansion in Alicante forms part of Vueling’s wider plans for summer 2026. Across Spain, the airline is adding around 1.4 million seats, a 5% increase year on year. Domestic routes will gain more than 500,000 additional seats, while international services will be strengthened with nearly 900,000 extra seats, particularly to and from France, Belgium, Italy and Portugal.
Overall, Vueling plans to offer more than 27 million seats next summer, with 11.7 million of them on routes to and from Spain. The airline will operate 220 routes to over 100 destinations across 30 countries in Europe and North Africa, including 16 new routes and several winter services extended into the summer.
For Alicante and the Costa Blanca, the message is clear. Summer 2026 is shaping up to be one of the best-connected seasons yet.
