Alicante–Elche is the busiest airport in south-eastern Spain and serves both the southern part of the Valencian Community and the Region of Murcia.

[4] The largest numbers of passengers arrive from the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Norway and Sweden.

El Altet airport opened on 4 May 1967, replacing the older aerodrome La Rabassa that had served Alicante since 1936.

[8] In June 2006, Avianca commenced a weekly flight from Bogotá to Barcelona whose outbound leg included a stop in Alicante.

[9][10] In 2008, the airline ended service to Alicante after Spanish authorities granted it permission to operate the flight nonstop in both directions.

[12] It has since grown to become one of the leading carriers at the airport, and by 2011 it had increased its presence further with eleven based aircraft, 62 routes, and had carried more than 3 million passengers.

A new control tower and office building, together with operation and business centres, were constructed and five air bridges were installed to facilitate boarding.

Car parking capacity was increased, the aircraft apron was expanded and a new runway exit was also constructed.

It employs a modern sensor system with displays and is directly connected with the airport building.

There are also hourly bus services to Benidorm, Torrevieja, Santa Pola, Guardamar del Segura and Murcia.

[111] Since 2024, ride-hailing companies Uber[112] and Cabify[113] have operated exclusive pickup areas at the airport located on the left side of arrivals roadway.

[114] The new terminal of the airport was built with space allocated for a railway station and an Alicante Tram stop.

In 2019, the Generalitat Valenciana granted €50,000 towards a feasibility study in connecting Alicante Airport to the rail network.