Aena’s Board of Directors has approved the tender for the first technical assistance related to the expansion of Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, with a budget exceeding thirty-eight million euros. This initiative marks a significant step forward in the modernisation and expansion project of the Alicantine airport, which involves a total investment of approximately one billion one hundred and fifty-four million euros. The contract, valued at thirty-eight million two hundred and fifty-six thousand four hundred and ninety-three euros, will include project management oversight, directing the preparation of plans, as well as overseeing the initial phases of the renovation works.

This expansion represents the most ambitious transformation of the airport since its current facilities opened in two thousand and eleven. With this tender, Aena has already allocated more than fifty-eight million euros to preliminary steps of the refurbishment, which includes nearly twenty million euros for the design of the terminal area and movement area, both currently in the final stages of awarding.

The project is part of the Aeronautical Regulatory Document, known as DORA III, which will govern Aena’s investments from twenty-twenty-seven to twenty-thirty-one. The primary goals of this project are to increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate future air traffic growth and to enhance the experience for both passengers and airlines. Key planned actions include expanding the terminal building, which will extend the boarding pier over the old Terminal 1 and the General Aviation Terminal.

This new area will manage non-Schengen traffic with centralised border control and new boarding gates compliant with European regulations. Additionally, there are plans for automated security control systems, new commercial spaces, and a VIP lounge specifically for international passengers. The parking platform for aircraft and the general aviation area will also be remodelled. Aena emphasises that all actions will follow environmental sustainability criteria, complying with the highest European standards and aiming for BREEAM certification. The president of Aena stated that the project will develop while safeguarding the environment and ensuring the highest levels of safety, quality, and environmental sustainability, thereby reinforcing Alicante-Elche airport’s position as a reference for connectivity and modern infrastructure within the national network.