ALICANTE AIRPORT RECORDED a significant increase in passenger numbers this year, handling the travel needs of nearly five million people during the summer quarter.
Data released by AENA shows that compared to the same months last year, passenger traffic has increased for the fourth consecutive year, with the Costa Blanca´s premier airport experiencing an increase in passenger numbers for June, July, and August 2019.
Alicante airport handled more international and domestic flights, with an average increase of 8.3% over summer 2018. June proved the most beneficial month in terms of growing incremental traffic, with the official data highlighting an 8.8% increase in passenger movements.
But July was the most popular month for the airport, handling more than 1.7 million travellers.
Despite the continued uncertainty over Brexit, Alicante-Elche airport welcomed more arrivals from the United Kingdom than any other international destination.
Alicante airport: 8.3% increase in passenger numbers for summer 2019 quarter
The latest annual traffic data underscores the strength of British and Spanish relations, with six times more flights from the UK than from Germany, the second most popular destination.
Flights originating from the Netherlands, Belgium, and Norway, complete the top five most flown international routes arriving at Alicante airport.
The growth exceeds Spain´s largest airport in Madrid which registered an increase in passengers of 8.2%. Barcelona´s El Prat airport saw an increase in traffic of 5.0%, while Palma de Mallorca airport saw growth of just 0.9%.
In terms of passenger movements, major airports in the Canary Islands performed particularly poorly over the summer 2019 season.
Gran Canaria, Tenerife-Sur, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote airports recorded declining visitor numbers, with Fuerteventura losing passengers every month throughout the summer quarter, registering 9.5% fewer travellers during July than the same month last year.
By contrast, Murcia-Corvera regional airport served the requirements of 420,989 travellers over the summer.
The new airport opened in January this year replacing commercial flight services destined for Murcia-San Javier.
During it´s busiest month, Murcia-Corvera handled a total of 145,764 passenger movements in July, exceeding Murcia-San Javier´s annual monthly average of 106,119 travellers recorded during the preceding calendar year.
“The growth exceeds Spain´s largest airport in Madrid which registered an increase in passengers of 8.2%. Barcelona´s El Prat airport saw an increase in traffic of 5.0%, while Palma de Mallorca airport saw growth of just 0.9%”.
And despite some negative reporting in the local media surrounding the airport’s recent performance, Murcia Today yesterday confirmed that Corvera airport will retain 11 regular scheduled flights over the winter 2019/2020 period.
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Photo credit: Alexander Pichlmayr / Inmo Investments
