Low-cost airlines and airports in the Valencian Community have always had a close relationship, especially in the case of Alicante-Elche airport, due to the millions of British tourists who arrive each year. This relationship was accentuated by the coronavirus pandemic, which has caused air traffic to plummet by 80% in the last 12 months. Low-cost airlines fell less in the Valencian Community than in the rest of the Spanish peninsula, and in some cases this less pronounced decline allowed the two Aena airports in the region, Valencia and Alicante-Elche, to rise in the ranking.
This is reflected in a report on the evolution of air transport in the Valencian Community during 2020 prepared by the area of Tourism Competitiveness of Turisme, based on data from Aena, Aerocas, INE, Frontur and Egatur. The report highlights that the Community experienced a lower decline compared to all destinations in terms of total number of passengers (-76.2% compared to -78.2%) only behind the Canary Islands and Madrid. And in terms of passengers arriving on low-cost airlines, it was the second destination on the peninsula after Catalonia and the destination where this type of passenger fell the least (always referring to the peninsula), with a drop of 76%.
Thus, the Valencian Community received a total of 2.33 million passengers arriving by air, with an annual decrease, as mentioned above, of 76.2%. The decline was more accentuated in Alicante (4.2 million less, a 76.8% decrease) than in Valencia (half a million, a 74.9% decrease). Passengers arriving at the two Aena airports on ‘low cost’ airlines accounted for 80.1% of the total, with a decrease of 76%, slightly less than the general decrease. However, Alicante-Elche airport received almost 71% of all passengers on low-cost flights.
The United Kingdom was the main issuer for the Valencian Community, accounting for 33% of passengers on low-cost airlines. It was followed by the Netherlands and Belgium with respective weights of 11.6% and 5.6%, according to the report. Among the countries of origin, the United Kingdom recorded the biggest fall (79.4%) and Belgium the smallest (-65.2%). By companies, the one that brought the most tourists to the airports of the Valencian Community was Ryanair, with almost 1.15 million and a drop of 71%. As for the one that fell the least, it was the Spanish airline Volotea with 58% (although in absolute terms, it transported only 42,000 passengers, thirty times less than Ryanair).
The Irish airline, in fact, maintains the highest share of passenger arrivals to the Community, with 46.9%, followed by Vueling Airlines with 14.8%, according to the report.
