Facilities Ranking
Safety Ranking
Environmental Ranking
• Region: Europe (Southern Europe / Mediterranean)
• Country/State: Spain (Valencian Community)
• City/Town: Alicante / Elche
• Website: https://www.aena.es
• Type of Airport: International (major leisure and European short-haul gateway)
• Airport code/s:
o IATA: ALC
o ICAO: LEAL
• Terminals:
– Single integrated terminal (NAT – Nueva Área Terminal) handling all domestic and international flights
• Passenger numbers:
– ~15–16 million passengers annually (2023–2024 estimate; one of Spain’s busiest leisure airports)
Parking
• Short-term: Multi-storey short-stay parking adjacent to terminal
• Long-term: Long-stay and economy parking facilities within airport perimeter
• Valet: Premium valet parking available
Hotel
• On site:
– No on-site terminal hotel
• Nearby:
– Wide range of hotels in Alicante, Elche and coastal resort areas (15–30 minutes by road)
Other facilities
• Restaurants/cafes: Spanish and international dining, cafés and fast food
• Bars: Licensed bars and café-bars airside and landside
• Lounges: Airline and contract lounges including Sala Ifach
• Duty-free shops: Extensive duty-free retail for international passengers
• Gift shops/newsagent/chemist: Travel retail, souvenirs, books and pharmacy services
• On-site travel agent: Airline ticketing offices and airport service desks
• Help desk/Lost & found: Airport information counters and central lost & found service
• Car rental: Major international and local car-rental companies landside
• Taxi/transport to city: Taxis, ride-hailing services, buses and private transfers
• Baby/parent room: Family rooms and baby-care facilities available
• Business center/free-Wi-Fi/charging: Free Wi-Fi throughout terminal; charging points widely available
• Gym: No public terminal gym
• Beauty center/hairdresser: Limited beauty and grooming services airside
• Other facilities: Medical services, prayer/quiet room, VIP handling
• Biometric check-in: Self-service and biometric boarding used by selected airlines
• Biometric customs: Automated border control e-gates for eligible passengers
Disabled/accessibility
• PRM assistance available free of charge via airline or airport
• Wheelchair assistance from curbside to gate and arrivals
• Fully step-free terminal with elevators and ramps
• Accessible parking spaces near terminal entrance
• Accessible toilets throughout terminal
• Priority security screening available
• Assistance dogs permitted
• Support for passengers with non-visible disabilities via trained staff
Runways
• Runway 10/28
Length/Width
• 10/28: ~3,000 m × 45 m
• Suitable for narrowbody aircraft and widebody charter operations (A320/B737 families, A330, B787)
Grooving of runways
• Grooved runway surface for improved wet-weather braking
• Drainage systems designed for Mediterranean rainfall events
ILS/CAT capability
• ILS installed
• CAT I and CAT II capability
• CAT III not available
Navigation aids
• ILS with PAPI visual guidance
• VOR/DME
• RNAV (GNSS-based) SIDs, STARs and approaches
Low-visibility operations
– Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) in place
– Operations occasionally affected by coastal haze and low cloud
On-time departures (OTP) data
• Generally strong OTP outside peak summer periods
• Delays mainly linked to:
– Seasonal leisure congestion
– European network and ATC constraints
Airfield restrictions
• No night curfew; 24-hour operations
• Seasonal slot pressure during summer peak
• Preferential runway use based on wind and safety considerations
Aircraft maintenance
• Line maintenance provided by based and visiting airlines
• No heavy maintenance facilities on site
• Oversight by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA)
Eco-efficient operations (e.g., energy use, carbon minimization, waste management, etc.)
• Energy-efficient terminal systems and LED lighting
• Fixed electrical ground power reduces aircraft APU usage
• Waste reduction and recycling programs implemented
Renewable energy use
• Partial use of renewable electricity via Spain’s national grid
• On-site solar installations supporting landside facilities
Availability of biofuel alternatives
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) availability dependent on airline initiatives
• No airport-mandated SAF blending requirement
Conservation of biodiversity [actual programs]
• Wildlife hazard management focused on bird control
• Environmental monitoring of surrounding semi-arid environment
Sustainable transportation
• Strong use of buses and shared ground transport
• EV charging available in airport parking areas
• Progressive electrification of airport service vehicles
Green building design
• Terminal designed for high passenger throughput and energy efficiency
• Extensive daylighting and efficient HVAC systems
• Sustainability embedded in AENA’s long-term airport modernisation strategy
