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Despite record-breaking passenger traffic, the Spanish government has once again rejected calls to construct a second runway at Alicante-Elche Airport.
In response to growing pressure, particularly from local politicians and business groups, the administration of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez maintains there is no immediate need for the expansion.
The issue was reignited by a formal letter from Agustín Almodóbar, Senator for Alicante and representative of the People’s Party (PP), who argued that the airport’s recent surge—over 18 million passengers in 2024, with more than two million added in the past year alone—renders current terminal improvements insufficient. He urged Sánchez to approve investment in a second runway, calling it both “necessary” and “justified.”
In reply, the central government reiterated its stance: Alicante-Elche Airport’s current infrastructure is adequate to handle air traffic demand and ensure citizens’ mobility needs. The government pointed to airport operator AENA’s infrastructure planning strategy, which aligns investments with actual operational demands and projected traffic growth.
According to their response, new developments, including a second runway, would only be initiated when performance metrics warrant it, and with ample advance planning.
Officials emphasized that Alicante-Elche Airport has “never been saturated” and highlighted that future efforts will focus on expanding the existing terminal rather than adding a second runway.
They state that the current runway has enough operational capacity to accommodate fluctuations in air traffic over the coming years.
While the government acknowledged that a second runway is outlined in the airport’s Master Plan as part of its maximum expansion potential, they stressed that construction will only proceed based on technical criteria showing clear need.
Notably, this plan was shared with the Generalitat and local business groups in April 2024, and the terminal expansion project has already been put out to tender.
The government insists the terminal expansion will meet future demand, improve passenger service quality, and boost operational efficiency.
They also emphasized their commitment to ensuring that Alicante-Elche Airport experiences “sustainable growth in both economic and environmental terms.”
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