Alicante Airport Mini Guide
Where Is It?
El Altet Airport is located approximately 9km south west of the large coastal town of Alicante in the
Murcia region of Spain. It is the main entry and exit point for tourists to the Costa Blanca, the largest and best known of its resorts being Benidorm – long a favourite of UK holidaymakers, but made even more popular in recent years by the comedy TV series set in the town. Several other smaller resorts served by this airport include Javea, Calpe and Altea.
Why Travel via Alicante Airport?
It is less than 3 hours flight time away from most
UK airports and there is a regular service by several airlines including low cost ones such as easyJet from all the major airports in the country. It also serves various national carriers such as Royal Air Maroc and of course the Spanish airline Iberia.
Facilities and Services
The new terminal was opened in 2011 at which point Terminals 1 and 2 were closed. The new terminal has much improved facilities which not only include a cafeteria, tourist information office and pharmacy along with all the local car hire company reception desks but also a much more efficient processing system for arriving and departing passengers. The car desks are located just to your right as you enter the main arrivals hall. When it comes to collecting your hire car, things couldn't be easier, just follow the walking tunnel to the rental car park across the way where your hire car will be waiting.
Outside the Airport
On leaving the airport with a hire car follow the signs to the main A7 Autovia de Mediteranni – a toll paying motorway which runs along most of the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Particularly if you are travelling onward to Benidorm, this road despite the toll charges which are only a few euros, is much the best way to travel as it bypasses the town of Alicante completely and enables you to travel the 140 or so kilometres to the resort in around one and a half hours – save a trip to Alicante for another day of your holiday.
If you are visiting one of the smaller resorts, most of these may be reached by a short journey along one of the roads exiting the motorway. Should you be travelling onwards by other means there are regular bus services available to Alicante centre and to Benidorm stopping at smaller resorts along the way.
Departure Time
Eventually there's always the inevitable time when the holiday's over and it's time to go home, should you need to fill up your hire car with either petrol or diesel before returning it (please check with your hire company on picking up the vehicle), there are three petrol stations located very close to the airport. Park your car in the rental parking building before crossing the road or using the walking tunnel into the terminal building to check in for your flight. After checking in you will find several restaurants and bars if you are need of refreshment before boarding and also a wide section of shops to spend the last of your holiday euros.
- Last year the airport almost broke the ten million passenger mark but are expecting a significant fall in passenger numbers after Ryanair pulled 31 routes over a dispute with the owner so if you were planning on repeating last year's holiday, be aware that your Ryanair flight may no longer be available.
- Alicante Airport have announced several new routes for 2013. Of most interest to UK travellers are the new BA route to London Gatwick. JetXtra's route to Humberside Airport and Thomson's flight to Edinburgh. Norwegian Air Shuttle will also open a new route from Gatwick Airport.