Valencia and Alicante-Elche Airports See February Passenger Growth, Prompting Calls for Faster Expansion

The regional minister for Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Trade, Marián Cano, said that “the growth recorded at Valencia and Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández airports during the month of February once again highlights the need to accelerate the planned investments and expansions at these infrastructures.”

According to air traffic statistics for February published this Thursday by AENA, both airports once again recorded an increase in passenger numbers compared with the same month last year, confirming the sustained growth trend they have experienced in recent years.

Specifically, Valencia Airport recorded a total of 786,589 passengers in February, representing a 3.6% increase compared with the same month in 2025. The terminal also handled 6,277 flights last month, a 0.4% decrease in take-offs and landings compared with February of the previous year.

Meanwhile, Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport registered 1,229,093 passengers in February, a 5.3% year-on-year increase. In terms of flight operations, the Alicante airport handled 8,002 movements, 5.6% more than in February 2025.

According to the head of tourism in the regional government, “these figures show that the Comunidad Valenciana continues to grow as a tourist destination throughout the year, but they also demonstrate that our airport infrastructure must adapt to this reality.”

“Valencian airports are growing faster than many forecasts anticipated, and we cannot allow a lack of planning or investment to slow their development or the economic and tourism opportunities of the Comunidad Valenciana,” she added.

In this regard, Cano reiterated that the Generalitat Valenciana will continue urging Spain’s central government and Aena to deliver “airport planning that reflects the real evolution of traffic and the tourism and economic importance of our destinations.”