Alicante continues to establish itself as a premier European holiday destination, with the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland driving summer demand for Ryanair flights to the region.
The low-cost airline will operate 89 domestic and international routes this season, connecting Alicante with 22 countries. This extensive network solidifies the province as one of the most well-connected coastal hubs in the Mediterranean.
The British market remains the undisputed leader in tourism for the province, accounting for 39.5 per cent of Ryanair’s total summer seat capacity in Alicante. British cities contribute the highest volume of travellers, with Manchester, London and East Midlands ranking as the top routes. Notably, the Manchester to Alicante connection has become the most popular route across the entire Alicante network, showing significant growth compared to last year and highlighting the ongoing strength of the UK market. Prominent increases in passenger numbers have also been recorded from Belfast and Liverpool.
Behind the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland represent the next largest international markets for the airline, accounting for 10.5 per cent and 9 per cent of seat capacity respectively. Ryanair noted that both nations are steadily increasing their presence along the Costa Blanca. This trend supports efforts by local tourism boards and industry leaders to diversify the profile of holidaymakers visiting the region.
The top flight paths booked by passengers travelling to Alicante this summer include Manchester, London, Dublin, East Midlands, Liverpool and Belfast.
Alejandra Ruiz, Ryanair’s spokesperson for Spain, stated that the extensive route network positions Alicante as one of Europe’s top holiday destinations. She noted that growth from the United Kingdom remains the cornerstone of summer demand, alongside positive trends from Germany and Poland. Ruiz emphasised that this connectivity offers affordable travel options for local residents and provides significant economic opportunities for the wider region.
However, the airline has raised concerns regarding operational challenges at Alicante airport. Ryanair warned that passengers are currently facing queues of one to two hours, with some missing flights due to staff shortages, inadequate preparation for border control systems and a lack of active self-service kiosks. The airline has called on the Spanish Government to mirror steps taken by Greece, which delayed the introduction of the European Union’s new Entry-Exit System (EES) to ensure smooth airport operations during peak travel months.
