easyJet Opens New Seasonal Base at Alicante-Elche Airport

easyJet strengthens its presence in Spain with a new base at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, introducing daily flights to Glasgow and announcing 10 new connections.

easyJet marked a significant expansion in Spain with the inauguration of its new base at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport on 31st March 2024. This strategic move introduces three A320 family aircraft to Alicante, generating approximately 100 jobs for pilots and crew. Operating seasonally from March to October, this base solidifies easyJet's position in Spain, where it now boasts four bases, 19 aircraft, and employs about 900 individuals on local contracts.

The launch of this new base underscores easyJet's commitment to Alicante, a city that has seen over 30 million passengers since the airline's first route to London Stansted in 1999. With the introduction of 10 new connections, easyJet's route network from Alicante expands to 22 destinations, enhancing connectivity with major European cities such as Amsterdam, Geneva, and Prague. This summer, easyJet aims to offer 1.5 million seats from Alicante, reflecting a 10% increase compared to the previous year.

Javier Gándara, easyJet's Southern Europe Director, expressed excitement about the base opening, emphasizing the alignment with market needs and the potential for future market expansion. Alicante's popularity among easyJet Holidays customers, particularly from the UK, further highlights the region's appeal.

The base inauguration was celebrated with an event attended by representatives from Aena, easyJet, local and regional authorities, and the Alicante business community. Toni Pérez, President of the Costa Blanca Tourist Board, highlighted easyJet's confidence in Alicante as a year-round destination, citing a record-breaking 15 million passengers in 2023.

The partnership between easyJet and the Costa Blanca Tourist Board has culminated in the 'Our journey to Alicante' campaign, celebrated today with the unveiling of a “hoguera” statue symbolizing easyJet's commitment to promoting Alicante's local customs across Europe. Designed by Sergio Gómez, the statue will be displayed at the Provincial Home in Alicante, reflecting the airline's community engagement.

With operations beginning in Spain 28 years ago, easyJet has transported over 220 million passengers and established 218 routes, including four bases in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, and now Alicante. The Alicante base's launch coincides with the seasonal reopening of easyJet's other bases, highlighting the airline's continued growth and commitment to connecting Spain with Europe and the UK.