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Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is heading into one of its first big tests of the season, and the numbers already suggest a very busy summer ahead.

 

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is heading into one of its first big tests of the season, just as work on its new VIP lounge begins to add another layer of interest to the terminal. With Holy Week now under way, airlines have scheduled 4,275 flights to the provincial airport between Friday March 27 and Monday April 6, a rise of 5.79% compared with the same period last year. 

 

Over the 11-day holiday period, the airport is expected to handle more than 350 flights a day at the very least. That is below the average daily figure seen in July 2025, which was the airport’s busiest month, but it still shows just how intense activity will be over Easter. The busiest day this week will be Saturday April 4, with 436 flights planned. That is followed by Thursday April 2 with 401, Sunday April 5 with 398 and Monday April 6 with 396. The quietest day will be Friday March 27, although even then 350 flights are scheduled.

 

The Easter period is being watched closely because it could offer a useful preview of how the rest of the summer might look. At this stage, the overall growth forecast for the full season is still unknown, but several airlines have already revealed their plans. Ryanair, which accounts for around 40% of airport activity, has announced an 11% increase in seats between the end of March and the end of October, with 89 routes on its schedule. EasyJet expects a 3% rise, while Vueling has said it will offer up to 18% more tickets.

 

Earlier estimates compiled by the Costa Blanca Tourist Board suggest the summer could bring a 9% rise in tickets compared with the same period in 2025. Those forecasts point to up to 16 million seats being made available on 230 routes linking Alicante with 32 different countries. They also suggest stronger activity with the United Kingdom and Germany, plus new or returning connections to markets in the east and North Africa, including a new route to Armenia and the return of flights to Casablanca.

 

For Alicante Airport, Holy Week is not just about Easter travellers. It is also a sign that the main summer season is already beginning to take shape.

 

Image: wikicommons