January 2024 at the Alicante Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport
The Alicante Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport has again highlighted its steady growth trajectory. In January 2024, the airport recorded a total of 958,088 passengers, representing a 20.5 percent increase over the same month in 2023 and marking five consecutive months of rising traveler registrations. The total number of flights reached 6,468, up 18.5 percent year over year, signaling continued positive momentum despite typically lower seasonal activity. These figures reflect solid progress in tourism for the region. Notably, the terminal surpassed one million passengers for the first time in November and December 2023, underscoring how demand has remained robust as the winter season progressed. [Source: AENA]
International travelers emerged as the primary driver of the improved traffic, with 805,602 passengers traveling on commercial services. This constitutes a 22.1 percent rise, according to data from AENA. The airport complex benefits from strong connectivity to twenty UK airports and steady performance from other international routes during the winter period, which contributed significantly to reaching this passenger level. [Source: AENA]
Originating tourism activity shows a clear pattern in nationalities. In January 2024, the leading contributor was the United Kingdom with 287,555 passengers, followed by the Netherlands with 77,631, Belgium with 63,598, Poland with 61,901 and Germany with 56,392. [Source: AENA]
Domestic traffic also posted a solid increase, with 151,379 passengers and a 12.9 percent rise compared with the prior year, highlighting a broad-based improvement in local travel demand. [Source: AENA]
More seats and flights
The unusual early year volume is explained by airlines expanding capacity for the winter season. Alicante Elche Airport recorded plans for about 6.4 million seats and roughly 34,500 commercial flights from October through March 30. This gearing represents a 23.2 percent rise in seats and a 20.8 percent rise in flights versus the previous winter season. [Source: AENA]
Geographically, Europe accounts for the bulk of offered seats, with more than 5.2 million seats available, up 24 percent from the prior winter. The domestic market contributes more than 1,025,000 seats, increasing 13 percent. Africa shows a notable expansion as well, with around 116,000 seats, up 165 percent due to the revival of routes with Algeria. [Source: AENA]
2024 predictions
The Generalitat Valenciana projected a strong year for El Altet in 2024. The Consell emphasized tourism growth at the International Tourism Fair and outlined optimistic targets: if 2023 set new records, 2024 could surpass them. Nuria Montes, the Minister of Tourism, noted that after a year in which Alicante Elche airport achieved record-breaking numbers, passenger traffic could exceed 15.7 million in 2024, with a likely rise in both flights and seats—one estimate suggesting a thirteen percent increase in planned seats, aiming for around 18 million total passengers. [Source: Valencian Government Briefing]