Aena to renew seating at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport

Aena has initiated the tender process to replace and expand all seating benches across the terminal at the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport, with a budget exceeding 3 million euros. The current seating was installed in 2011 and has reached the end of its useful period.

The project has a bidding budget of 3,088,013 euros, taxes included. This investment goes beyond a simple replacement, as it also includes expanding the quantity of seats available. Furthermore, the seating will be modernised to incorporate USB charging ports and electrical sockets, allowing travellers to charge their mobile phones, computers, and tablets while waiting in the terminal. If certain units do not feature integrated power points, nearby electrical connection totems will be installed.

This initiative aims to provide extra comfort and accommodate modern social habits, helping passengers experience a more manageable stay inside the terminal. This is particularly relevant given the recommended arrival time of roughly two hours before departure to avoid issues at check-in desks and security filters.

Two joint ventures and companies have registered proposals for the supply contract. The evaluation of these offers is currently underway by the Aena contracting board, and the chosen company will have a period of ten months to complete the installation of the new seating benches equipped with electrical connections.

This tender joins various other improvements promoted by the airport operator since 2023, including a new Airport Management Centre, updated climate control systems for boarding bridges, double boarding systems, solar panels on car park canopies, and a new taxiway. These combined actions total more than 33 million euros in investment, ahead of a broader expansion project that involves building a new boarding pier following the demolition of the current unused Terminal 1 and General Aviation buildings, alongside the expropriation of additional land for a new General Aviation facility in Alicante and Elche.