Holidaymakers have been warned that two popular Spanish destinations are on the ‘brink of collapse’ ahead of summer. Two Spanish airports serving popular holiday destinations have reported a surge in passenger numbers, with officials warning they may struggle to cope with the increasing influx.
Valencia Manises and Alicante-Elche both experienced their busiest April on record, with Spain’s overall visitor numbers 14 per cent higher than the same month last year, reported by the MEN.
Valencia airport welcomed 945,513 passengers in April, marking a 9.5 percent increase from the same period last year, according to data from Aena, the airport management company. So far this year, the popular Spanish destination has already seen 3.07 million passengers pass through its doors.
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If these figures persist into the summer season, it is anticipated that the airport will exceed its 10.5 million capacity and become unsustainable. Alicante-Elche, which serves the popular resorts of Alicante and Benidorm, is facing a similar situation, having registered its fourth record-breaking month of the year in April, with 1,590,828 passengers.
Recent local reports suggest long queues for taxis at arrivals at Alicante-Elche airport, with passengers reportedly waiting for up to hours. Two weeks ago, there were said to be 200 people waiting for a taxi, prompting the Ministry of Transport to schedule a meeting to find a solution.
Tourism numbers in Spain have been steadily increasing post-pandemic, with popular destinations such as Valencia, Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, and the islands of Mallorca, Ibiza, Tenerife, and Lanzarote seeing a surge in visitors. However, this influx has led to protests over overcrowding on many of the islands.
Experts warn that without an expansion to Valencia Manises, a collapse could be imminent. Aena, the airport operator, plans to commence an expansion project either at the end of this year or early 2025, but completion is not expected until 2027.
“Valencia airport must be expanded because it is on the verge of collapse,” said Nuria Montes, the Valencian Tourism Councillor, in a recent interview. She believes that with an upgrade, the airport could handle up to 15 million passengers per year by 2030.
A recent report from the Council of Chambers emphasised that improvements “would allow us to exceed 21 million passengers in an optimistic scenario” by 2030. The report also warned that if the current situation persists, losses could amount to over £794million, along with the loss of 17,500 new jobs annually.
In the meantime, Carlos Mazon, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, and Carlos Bano, the president of the Alicante Chamber of Commerce, issued an urgent warning about Alicante-Elche Airport. They stated that it too is on the brink of collapse and that if no action is taken, the entire province could be paralysed.
A recent report has revealed that traffic projections for 2026 have already been surpassed in 2023, pushing the airport to its limits. With predictions indicating this trend will continue, reaching two million passengers annually, the existing infrastructure will struggle to cope with the increasing demand.
Bano has issued a stark warning that if immediate action is not taken, it could result in an economic catastrophe for the province losing over £681million annually. He also emphasised the potential threat to employment, with up to 14,800 jobs at risk if construction of a second runway does not commence between 2024 and 2030.
Given that tourism is a key pillar of Alicante’s economy, the airport issues could also lead to severe financial repercussions for businesses and families throughout the region. Consequently, Aena’s president, Maurici Lucena announced that they will initiate the expansion of Alicante-Elche airport by the end of this year, during a meeting with the Ministers of Infrastructure.
However, Lucena stated that the renovations would primarily focus on enlarging the current terminal, rather than constructing a second runway, which is what many are advocating for. Following an analysis and technical study, “investment priorities should be the expansion of the current terminal to increase its capacity in the face of future demand due to the increase in operations and passengers,” he said.
The Alicante Chamber of Commerce, however, has voiced concern, highlighting that these measures aren’t sufficient. They predict that by 2026, the airport will have to accommodate 20 million users, necessitating an immediate second runway.
Nuria Montes openly confirmed this view, saying, “a second runway for the Alicante-Elche airport is their main demand”.
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