ARCHIVED - Alicante-Elche Airport officially changes its name

Alicante's provincial airport on the Costa Blanca now incorporates the name of Spanish poet Miguel Hernández.

Spain's fifth busiest airport will be officially known as Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández from today, Friday, June 18.

The name change is in tribute to the poet and playwright, born in Orihuela in the Vega Baja, Alicante province, on the 110th anniversary of his birth, as confirmed by the Ministry of Transport and published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) in May.

An official ceremony at the airport's arrivals' terminal will mark the name change, attended by various official and dignitaries.

The airport is the gateway to the Costa Blanca and has seen a surge in arrivals of holidaymakers destined for resorts across the provinces of Alicante, Valencia and Castellon this month.

A total of 123 flights carrying 12,000 passengers - 6,000 tourists - passed through the airport on Monday, June 7 - 24 hours after Spain officially welcomed vaccinated people from all over the world.

There are several locations in Orihuela, where the poet was born, which honour his memory, amongst them the house in which he was born and grew up, which is now a museum (and is free to visit)   and a district in which the houses are covered with painted wall murals honouring the poet, who died in jail during the Spanish Civil War.

IMAGE: Archive