In 2025, the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández and Valencia airports set new records for passenger numbers. By the end of November, both airports had already surpassed last year’s totals: Alicante saw 18.63 million travelers, while Valencia handled 10.95 million. These figures are significantly higher than in 2024, when both airports together received just under 30 million passengers.
Since the beginning of the year, passenger traffic in Alicante increased by 8.5% compared to the same period last year. Valencia showed even stronger growth, with an increase of 9.4%. The number of flights also went up: Alicante registered 116,924 takeoffs and landings over 11 months, 8.4% more than the previous year. Valencia recorded 85,986 flight operations, a 6.3% rise.
November records
November proved especially successful for both airports. Alicante handled 1,411,496 passengers during the month, up 10.3% from November 2024. In fact, every month this year has set new passenger records. In Valencia, November was also a milestone: traffic jumped by 25.4% to 870,956 travelers. This surge is explained not only by recovery after last year’s weather disruptions, but also by an increase in international flights.
In Alicante, international routes have traditionally prevailed. In November, their share rose by 13.6% to 1,230,388 passengers. Domestic flights, on the other hand, recorded a 7.5% decrease, serving 178,975 travelers. In Valencia, international traffic also dominates with 647,040 passengers, up 32.2% from a year ago. Domestic flights at this airport, however, rose by 9.2% to reach 222,371 travelers.
Popular destinations
In Alicante, the UK route topped the passenger numbers in November with 453,903 people. Next were the Netherlands (95,642), Germany (90,428), Belgium (85,778), and Poland (83,234). In Valencia, Italy led with 169,536 passengers, followed by Germany (74,511), the Netherlands (63,655), France (61,578), and the UK (59,955).
This distribution of destinations reflects a steady interest from European tourists in the Costa Blanca coast and Valencia’s cultural centers. At the same time, domestic tourism in the region is also continuing to grow, despite a slight decline in Alicante.
Operations and dynamics
In November, Alicante-Elche Airport handled 9,469 flights—10.5% more than in the same month last year. Valencia reported 7,207 takeoffs and landings, a 5.9% increase over last year. Both airports continue to accelerate their growth, which has already sparked discussions about the need for infrastructure expansion.
Across the country, airports operated by the Aena group handled 27.68 million passengers in November, a 4.7% increase compared to the previous year. The number of flight operations rose by 1.6% to 244,057. Cargo transport also saw significant growth — 146,297 tons, up 12.2% compared to November 2024.
Challenges and prospects
The sharp increase in passenger traffic in Alicante and Valencia has already sparked discussions about the urgent need to expand terminals and runways. Regional authorities are pushing for airport upgrades to handle the growing influx of tourists and to support the local economy.
Experts note that if the trend continues, both airports could set new records as early as next year. At the same time, the rise in flights and passenger numbers calls for additional investments in security, logistics, and services for travelers.
