Alicante International Airport Spotting Guide

Alicante International Airport Spotting Guide

January 31, 2022 - last modified on November 17, 2023

Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport is located 8km south of the city centre and handled roughly 15 mio passengers in 2019. ALC is a major holiday destination in Spain and the airport is mainly served by low cost carriers due to tourists and ‘snowbirds’ all year round. Many non-Spanish people have a holiday home in the region to escape the cold winter months in their homeland. That`s why ALC is pretty busy even in the winter season and not only during the summer holidays.
Most traffic is generated by Ryanair, followed by EasyJet , TUI and Vueling. Besides them, all major European carriers flying in and out of Alicante. The United Kingdkom is the country with the most visitiors so most flights are arriving from this country.

With just one runway and a good amount of movements, Alicante is a very nice spotting location all year round.

Written by Fryderyk Kastelnik. Last update: Summer 2021

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10/28	3.000m (9.842 ft) Asphalt
Terminals
Terminals	One terminal handling all flights
Spotting Information
Ladder	Only useful at spot 3 but in general there is no need for a ladder as all spots are elevated to clear the fence.
Car/Public Transport	Absolutley necessary to reach the spots as there is no public transport to and from the locations.
Drinks/Food	There is a small supermarkt at the Avinguda Sant Francesc, which you will pass if you drive to the locations.
Hotels	There are no hotel close the airport except some small apartments. More options along the mediterranean sea.
Season	A good destination for the whole year. The termpatures is very high during the summer but even in winter there are friendly temperatures. Of course there are more movements during the European summer holiday season but even in the winter there are many movements.
Runway Usage
10/28	28 is usually active during winter and 10 during the rest of the year.

	Spot #1 – Broken Wall – 28 arrivals and departures, 10 departures
WHERE	The first location is at the touchdown zone of runway 28 on a broken wall on the opposite side of the terminals. If you come from there merge highway N-332 to Alacant \| Alicante until motorway intersection ‘Santa Pola’ and exit N-332 in direction to Santa Pola and Cartagena. Follow N-332s street course for 1,7km end exit N-332 at El Altet (Norte)/CV-849/Elx/Elche but bear left and go straight for 550m until a roundabout appears. Take first exit (Avinguda Sant Francesc). You will then reach in 150 a church “parroquia dan Francisco de Asís” make then right turn at the street before the church then left-right-left (these are short tiny distances) then make it until the end of the way and you’ll see next to the fence a broken wall. it is pretty solid and you can stand on it so no ladder is needed

WHAT	28 arrivals, departures and taxiway. You can get nice arrival photos whith the apartments in the back. 10 departures are possible as well as partially 10 arrivals.

TIME	All day all year except during the summer mornings and early afternoon

MISC.	Heat haze can be a problem on hot days. A supermarket is not far from this point.

FOCAL LENGTH	Touchdown 737/A320 = 100-120mm Taxiway A320 = 190mm

	Spot #2 – Small mound – All runway movements
WHERE	Another spot direclty at the airport fence but this time it is inthe middle of the runway. It is a popular point for people with families just watching airplanes. To get there use the same direction as above but pass the curch and follow street course for 1.3km (CV-849) until the next roundabout appears. Take first exit again and follow the street. When you approach the fence turn right and follow the dirt road eastwards to the marked position. Park your car here and use the small dirt mound which makes it possible to take photos over the fence so no ladder needed.

WHAT	All runway operations of runway 10/28 as well as all terminal apron movements in the far distance.

TIME	All day all year except during the summer mornings and early afternoon

MISC.	Heat haze can be a problem on hot days. A supermarket is not far from this point.

FOCAL LENGTH	737/A320 = 100-120mm

	Spot #3 – Rocks near the fence – 10 arrivals
WHERE	Continue from the previous spot westwards for around 500 meters until the road bends left. There is some kind of grass verge to your right. Drive on the bumpy road a few meters along the fence and stop. Jump on some rocks where you can stand on to clear the fence partially. Thats why a ladder is recommended but not necesarily.

WHAT	Best spot when runway 10 is active so you can get all arrivals and departures from here.

TIME	All day all year except during the summer mornings and early afternoon

MISC.	Absoltuely nothing close so bring everything you need with you. Security don’t like to see spotters here so be prepared to leave this place.

FOCAL LENGTH	A220 = 130mm; PC-24 = 300mm