--- iata: ALC name: Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport city: Alicante country: Spain lastUpdated: '2026-08-31' officialWebsite: 'https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche.html' sources: - 'https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche.html' - 'https://www.aena.es/doc/pressdetail/260113-aena-estadisticas-2025en.pdf' - >- https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche/vip-services/vip-lounges/costa-blanca-vip-lounge.html - >- https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez/vip-services/fast-lane.html - 'https://serviciosvip.aena.es/vip/en/aeropuertos/alicante-elche' - >- https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez/how-to-get-there/bus.html - >- https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez/how-to-get-there/taxi.html - >- https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez/how-to-get-there/train-tram.html - >- https://www.aena.es/es/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez/servicios-del-aeropuerto/wifi.html - >- https://www.aena.es/en/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez/airport-services/categories/other-services.html - 'https://alicante.vectalia.es/notificacion/modificacion-tarifas/' - >- https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/spain/alicante-elche/alc-sala-vip-costa-blanca - 'https://aip.enaire.es/aip/contenido_AIP/AD/AD2/LEAL/LE_AD_2_LEAL_en.html' - >- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alicante%E2%80%93Elche_Miguel_Hern%C3%A1ndez_Airport quickFacts: - >- El Altet, ~9 km SW of Alicante centre / ~10 km from Elche; IATA ALC / ICAO LEAL; Aena-operated civilian airport marketed as Aeropuerto de Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández (also still called El Altet locally) - >- Record 19,950,394 passengers in 2025 (+8.5% YoY) — Aena press 13 Jan 2026; Spain’s #5 airport after MAD / BCN / PMI / AGP; 126,081 movements (+8.4%); international ~17.46M (+10.6%, ~88% of traffic); domestic ~2.48M (−4%) - >- Single modern Terminal N (Nueva Área Terminal): check-in / security on departures level; airside processor (C gates) + longitudinal dock (B gates); non-Schengen flows typically via passport control into the C pier - >- One asphalt runway 10/28 — 3,000 × 45 m (ENAIRE AIP LEAL); ILS Cat I on RWY 10; Ryanair is the dominant based LCC alongside easyJet, Jet2, Vueling and other leisure carriers — UK / northern Europe holiday traffic is the core market - >- Sole Priority Pass lounge: Costa Blanca VIP Lounge (Sala VIP Costa Blanca) airside near gates C45–C46, daily 04:00–23:00; Aena day pass €45.95 adult / €21.25 child (serviciosvip.aena.es); Fast Track / Fast Lane €16.55 online, open 04:00–22:00 - >- No rail station on the field — Vectalia / TAM C-6 bus is the public default to Alicante (€4.60 single from 4 Jul 2025 per Vectalia notice; ~20–30′; Luceros connects to TRAM); official taxis Radio Taxi Elche / Servitaxi Elche with €4.25 airport supplement bentoTips: - label: Transport title: C-6 bus €4.60 — no airport train detail: >- There is no tram or Renfe stop at ALC. Take Vectalia / TAM line C-6 from the departures roadway (level 2) to Alicante centre (~20–30 minutes depending on stops and traffic). Vectalia’s official tariff notice set the special airport single at €4.60 (IVA included) from 4 July (Consellería resolution; still the fare on Vectalia’s modificación-tarifas page) — ignore older €3.85 guides. Pay on board (contactless or cash as accepted that day); urban Bono 10 / Tourist Card products do not replace the C-6 airport fare. Useful stops include Luceros (TRAM lines 1–4 toward Benidorm / Dénia) and the ADIF / bus-station area for onward rail and coaches. For Elche use Avanza R10 / R11; ALSA and other coaches cover Benidorm, Murcia, Torrevieja, Denia, Jávea and Cartagena from the same kerb. Official taxis (green stripe + Elche crest): Radio Taxi Elche / Servitaxi Elche — Aena lists a €4.25 airport supplement on top of regulated urban/interurban meters; expect roughly €20–30 to Alicante centre daytime before night/holiday/luggage supplements (confirm live at the arrivals desk 09:00–01:00 or meter). summary: >- C-6 €4.60 / ~20–30′ to Alicante; Luceros for TRAM; taxi +€4.25 airport supplement, ~€20–30 centre. category: timing - label: Security title: Classic 100 ml + Fast Lane €16.55 detail: >- Pack classic EU LAG rules (≤100 ml containers in a clear 1-litre bag; electronics out when asked). ALC has no published CT / ≤2 L liquids waiver on Aena passenger pages — treat it as classic. Central security feeds the whole airside. Buy Aena Fast Lane / Fast Track on serviciosvip.aena.es (live cart €16.55 for T1; 3-month validity; kids 0–5 typically free with an eligible adult — confirm checkout). Preferential access runs 04:00–22:00 per Aena Fast Lane page. Summer UK / charter banks (especially Fri–Mon mornings) are when the paid lane pays for itself; midweek winter queues are often short enough to skip. Aim ~2.5 hours early for non-Schengen / peak leisure waves, ~2 hours for quiet Schengen afternoons. summary: >- Classic 100 ml LAGs; Aena Fast Lane €16.55 (04:00–22:00); buffer hard in summer peaks. category: terminal - label: Lounge title: 'Costa Blanca VIP 04:00–23:00 — or Enrique Tomás PP credit' detail: >- Sala VIP Costa Blanca is the only proper lounge: airside boarding area (Aena: planta 1 / P1) near gates C45–C46 after security / passport control as signed. Hours daily 04:00–23:00 (Aena + Priority Pass). Priority Pass / LoungeKey-style cards accepted subject to capacity; Aena walk-in €45.95 adult / €21.25 child (3-month purchase validity). Aena terms: max stay 3 hours immediately before scheduled departure (confirm any airline special conditions at the desk). Amenities advertised by Aena include catering, special diets, Wi-Fi, kids’ area, press, PRM access — traveler reports vary on hot-food depth, so do not assume a full hot buffet every hour. Priority Pass also lists Enrique Tomás as an Eat / dining-credit venue (hours commonly 04:30–22:00) — a jamón / tapas-style restaurant credit, not a lounge; confirm the live euro credit in the Priority Pass app before counting on it. summary: >- One airside Costa Blanca VIP (PP + €45.95 day pass); Enrique Tomás is PP dining credit, not a lounge. category: status - label: Water & Wi-Fi title: Free fountains + Airport Free Wifi Aena detail: >- Aena lists drinking fountains throughout the passenger terminal — empty bottles before classic 100 ml screening, then refill airside (often near toilet blocks / transit corridors; follow fountain pictograms). Free Wi-Fi SSID Airport Free Wifi Aena covers Terminal N: connect, open the captive portal (or freewifi.aena.es), verify email as Guest or sign in with Aena Club — after verification Aena states unlimited-duration access. Comfort zone on level 2, pet zone, reading area and vending machines are also listed under Other services. Left-luggage / lockers: confirm live on Aena baggage pages before relying on them for a long Costa Blanca day trip. summary: >- Free terminal fountains; SSID Airport Free Wifi Aena (email verify then unlimited). category: food lounges: - name: Costa Blanca VIP Lounge (Sala VIP Costa Blanca) zone: mixed hours: '04:00-23:00 daily' access: - Priority Pass - LoungeKey / Dragon Pass / similar lounge cards (confirm card network) - >- Aena day pass €45.95 adult / €21.25 child (serviciosvip.aena.es; 3-month purchase validity) - Participating airline / status / Aena Lounge card entitlements bestFor: - Priority Pass holders escaping summer LCC gate banks - 'Early departures from 04:00' - Families (children’s area listed by Aena; under-5 free on Priority Pass) summary: >- Sole passenger lounge at ALC: airside near gates C45–C46 (Aena planta 1 / P1 boarding). Open 04:00–23:00; PP + Aena day pass. Max stay typically 3 hours pre-departure under Aena terms. Useful quiet seat and soft drinks; verify live catering quality rather than assuming a full hot buffet. verdict: worth-it terminal: 'Terminal N (airside, boarding area near gates C45–C46)' amenities: - Soft drinks and standard alcoholic drinks (PP) - Catering / special diets (Aena-listed; quality varies by time of day) - Free Wi-Fi - Flight information / TV - Digital press - Children’s play area - Air conditioning - Step-free / PRM access - Animals allowed (Aena-listed) - name: Enrique Tomás (Priority Pass dining credit) hours: '04:30-22:00 (Priority Pass)' access: - >- Priority Pass Eat / restaurant dining credit (confirm live euro amount in the Priority Pass app) bestFor: - Priority Pass holders who want food instead of lounge seating - Jamón / tapas-style meal before a C-gate departure summary: >- Priority Pass restaurant credit at Enrique Tomás — not a lounge. Use when Costa Blanca VIP is full, closed to your card, or you specifically want a sit-down meal; confirm credit value and eligible menu items in the PP app. verdict: depends terminal: Terminal N (airside — confirm live location on Priority Pass) amenities: - Restaurant / dining credit - Jamón and tapas-style menu (venue brand) waterOptions: - kind: free name: Airside drinking fountains zone: airside price: Free summary: >- Aena lists drinking fountains throughout the terminal — refill after classic 100 ml security; commonly found near toilet blocks and transit / boarding corridors (follow fountain pictograms). location: Airside after security (toilet blocks / boarding corridors) terminal: Terminal N isBestValue: true isBestQuality: true - kind: free name: Landside drinking fountains zone: landside price: Free summary: >- Aena states fountains exist across the passenger terminal, including public arrivals / departures areas — useful before emptying bottles for security. location: Landside check-in / arrivals public areas (follow fountain signs) terminal: Terminal N - kind: purchase name: Landside café & newsstand bottled water zone: landside price: Typically ~€2–€4 for 0.5 L (varies by outlet) summary: >- Sealed bottles from kiosks, cafés and retail before security if you prefer not to hunt for a fountain. location: Arrivals / check-in hall retail terminal: Terminal N - kind: purchase name: Airside café & duty-free bottled water zone: airside price: Typically ~€2–€4 for 0.5 L (varies by outlet) summary: >- Backup sealed bottles from airside F&B and commercial outlets if fountains are busy or hard to spot near your gate bank. location: Airside commercial / gate area after security terminal: Terminal N airportistScore: 7.5 slug: alc region: Europe --- > Markdown for [/airports/alc](/airports/alc). Append `.md` to any page URL (or send `Accept: text/markdown`) for an agent-readable copy. - [HTML page](/airports/alc) - [Lounge directory](/airports/alc/lounges.md) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.md) # Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) Alicante, Spain · Europe Spain’s #5 airport and Costa Blanca leisure gateway: modern single Terminal N, strong LCC network, one solid Priority Pass lounge — but no rail link and summer UK banks still bite. ## Airportist Score **7.5 / 10** - Comfort: 7.4 - Navigation: 7.8 - Food: 6.9 - Transport: 6.6 - Disruption resilience: 6.9 ## At a glance - Passengers: 19.95M (2025) - Terminals: 1 (Terminal N) - Typical security: 12 min - On-time: 70% - Disruption: normal ## Best for - Costa Blanca / Benidorm holiday arrivals - Priority Pass holders using Costa Blanca VIP - Budget travellers taking the C-6 bus - Ryanair / easyJet / Jet2 leisure itineraries ## Watch out for - No on-airport train or tram — C-6 or road only - Summer Fri–Mon security and C-pier passport queues - Classic 100 ml LAG rules (no published CT waiver) - Older guides quoting C-6 at €3.85 — live fare is €4.60 ## More intel - [Lounge directory](/airports/alc/lounges.md) (free) - [Getting there](/airports/alc/getting-there.md) (free) - [Amenities](/airports/alc/amenities.md) - [Traveler tips](/airports/alc/tips.md) - [Water](/airports/alc/water.md) - [Full guide](/airports/alc/guide.md) - [Disruptions](/airports/alc/disruptions.md) - [Reviews](/airports/alc/reviews.md)