Costa Blanca
Ryanair growth leads to a busier Alicante airport
By h.b. - Nov 12, 2009 - 10:22 AM
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Ryanair
El Altet was the fifth busiest airport in Spain in October
The El Altet airport in Alicante has broken the national trend and grown to be the fifth busiest airport in the country, overtaking the Canaries. And it’s thanks to Ryanair and a high number of Norwegian tourists that October’s passenger numbers are good.
During the month 883,763 passengers used El Altet, and the Spanish airports authority, AENA, has voiced satisfaction at the growth. However after poor traveller numbers seen in November and December last year, they are prudent regarding the rest of the low season. October saw a 4% fall in British arrivals compared to a year ago, with 409,656 passengers.
Ryanair now flies to 50 destinations in Europe and North Africa from Alicante. During October they operated 1,760 flights from Alicante, 101% more than for the same month last year, and 620 more than their nearest rival, Easyjet. The third airline at El Altet was Air Berlin with 562 flights and Iberia was fourth with 464.
Meanwhile Ryanair has once again published a controversial calender showing members of its cabin crew in various states of undress.