Record airport numbers and travel discounts boost Costa Blanca summer season

The Costa Blanca is heading into the summer season with strong momentum, as record passenger numbers, discounted public transport and popular seasonal attractions continue to attract residents and visitors. From Alicante-Elche Airport’s latest milestone to extended travel discounts and the return of Urbanova’s summer market, the region is preparing for another busy few months.

Airport passenger numbers continue to soar

The Costa Blanca’s gateway to the world has reached another major milestone after Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport welcomed more than two million passengers in a single month for the first time this year.

New figures released by airport operator Aena show that 2.07 million passengers passed through the airport during May, an increase of almost 12 per cent compared with the same month last year.

International travellers once again drove the growth, accounting for more than 1.8 million passengers during the month. Domestic traffic also continued to rise, reflecting growing demand for both holiday and business travel.

The United Kingdom remained by far the airport’s largest market, with almost 692,000 passengers travelling between the Costa Blanca and British destinations during May alone. The Netherlands, Germany and Poland also generated strong passenger numbers, highlighting the region’s popularity across northern Europe.

The growth was mirrored on the runways, with more than 13,000 aircraft movements recorded during the month, a rise of over 12 per cent compared with May 2025.

The latest figures mean Alicante-Elche Airport has handled almost eight million passengers during the first five months of 2026, putting it firmly on course for another record-breaking year.

Free and discounted travel extended

Thousands of families across the Costa Blanca will continue benefiting from free and discounted public transport after Alicante extended its travel support scheme until the end of the year.

The measure, which had been due to expire on 30 June, will now remain in place until 31 December 2026 thanks to continued funding from Spain’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.

The extension applies throughout the Alicante Metropolitan Transport network (TAM), covering both bus and TRAM services used by residents and visitors across the wider metropolitan area.

Under the scheme, children aged 14 and under will continue to travel completely free of charge, offering welcome savings for families during the busy summer season and beyond.

Discounted travel will also remain available for other age groups. Young people aged between 15 and 30 will continue to receive a 50 per cent reduction on transport passes, while passengers aged 31 to 65 will benefit from discounts of up to 40 per cent on eligible travel cards.

Pensioners are also included, with holders of the Móbilis Oro card entitled to up to 300 free journeys per year.

The discounts cover a range of popular travel passes, including monthly tickets, youth passes and school transport cards.

Summer market returns to Urbanova

Shoppers heading to Urbanova this summer will once again be able to browse stalls packed with local produce, clothing and handmade goods as the popular seasonal market returns.

The Urbanova Summer Market will begin on Thursday, 18 June, and will continue every Thursday evening until 17 September.

The market will operate from 4:00 PM until 11:00 PM and will feature 26 authorised stalls offering a variety of products, including food, fashion and artisan crafts.

Located on Calle Músico José Mira Figueroa, between Carretera del Saladar and Calle Profesor Rafael Casasempere, the market has become a popular feature of the summer season and is now returning for its third consecutive year.

As well as fresh food and clothing, visitors will also find a selection of handcrafted products.