Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport Guide

IATA ALCICAO LEALAlicanteUpdated 2026-07-21
Local time
––

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport sits 9 kilometres southwest of Alicante city centre and 10 kilometres east of Elche, in the province of Valencia on Spain's southeastern Mediterranean coast. The airport opened on 4 May 1967, when the first aircraft — an Aviaco Convair Metropolitan — landed at the new facility. It is operated by Aena, Spain's national airport authority.

The airport has grown into Spain's fifth busiest, handling 18.4 million passengers in 2024 — a 16.8% increase on the prior year. Around 85% of traffic is international, with the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Belgium among the leading origin markets. Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Norwegian, Jet2, and Wizz Air are among the largest carriers. The airport recorded 116,270 aircraft movements in 2024.

A single runway of 3,000 metres serves all operations. The current Terminal NAT (Nueva Área Terminal) opened in March 2011 and has capacity for 20 million passengers per year, with 96 check-in desks, 40 gates, and 16 baggage claim carousels. Aena has announced a major expansion under its 2027–2031 investment framework, integrating the closed former terminals into an enlarged facility.

Services

5 of 6 available

Compare 35 listed options at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, spanning parking, car rentals, lounges, hotels and shuttles. Each guide sets out locations, distance from the airport, key features and links to book direct, so you can weigh cost against convenience before you fly. Select a service below to see every provider we track for Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport.

Location

✈️

Key facts

Size
18M passengers (2024)1 runwayopened 1967
Location
38.282, -0.558
Operator
Aena

Terminals

1 terminal

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport has 1 passenger terminalTerminal NAT, handling both international and domestic flights for around 10 airlines. Check which terminal your airline uses before you travel, as check-in, security and boarding points differ between them, and moving from one to another can take time.

  • Terminal NATMixed

    Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling, Norwegian, Jet2, Wizz Air, TUI Airways, Iberia, KLM, Eurowings

Nearby cities

5 cities

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is closest to Alicante (9 km northeast), and also serves Elche, Santa Pola and other nearby areas. With 5 towns and cities within reach, it is a practical gateway for the wider region. Distances shown are straight-line from the airport, so allow extra time for road transfers, traffic and parking.

  • Alicante9 km northeast
  • Elche12 km west
  • Santa Pola15 km south
  • Torrevieja44 km south
  • Benidorm58 km north

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the airport codes for Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport?

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport uses the following codes: IATA: ALC, ICAO: LEAL. These codes are used by airlines, pilots, and travel systems to identify the airport.

Where is Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport located?

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport is located in Alicante, Valencia (community), Spain. The airport coordinates are 38.2822°, -0.5582°.

What services are available at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport?

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport offers: 15 parking options, 13 car rental companies, 1 lounges, 4 nearby hotels, 2 shuttle services, public transport connections. Click on each service type above to view detailed information.

Help us improve this page

Found outdated information or know about a service we're missing? Let us know!

Suggest page updates →