The president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, said yesterday that both the expansion of the Alicante-Elx airport and that of Manises "are part of the main priorities of the Valencian Generalitat with respect to the Government of Spain." After the battle over the expansion of the Port of València, which was finally approved a few weeks ago with the visit of Minister Óscar Puente to Valencia, Mazón announced yesterday that this will be the new infrastructure request to the Executive of Pedro Sánchez.
Asked during her visit to Fitur, Minister Diana Morant pointed out that "there is no one who defends Valencian interests better and more than the Government of Spain and we are demonstrating it in infrastructure policy." Morant added that "there has not been a single infrastructure that has been dreamed of in the Valencian Community that is not now in progress or that has the planned financing" and charged against Carlos Mazón for opposing the government of Pedro Sánchez. "I would ask him to do his job and that with those transfers that he receives invest and do not cut back on our public health, science or education,” he said.
The tourist figures for 2023, which show a record number of travelers, and the forecasts for 2024 motivate the head of the Consell to work to “try not to die of success.” That is why yesterday he defended within the framework of Fitur that “we have to know how to receive and organize it” and for that he pointed out that it is necessary to expand both airport infrastructures. He even opted to improve the strategic area of the Castellón airport, which depends on the Generalitat Valenciana.
The Consell's proposal is also based on figures, because as the Minister of Tourism, Nuria Montes, stated in her presentation of the 2023 balance, these expansions are already requested by “the capacity limits” of both spaces. Passengers and operations at Alicante-Elx airport increased by 19.2%; 22.6% in Valencia and 89.7% in Castellón.
Likewise, in the survey presented for 2024, the Alicante airport shows capacity for 54,600 flights, 12.6% more with 13.1% more seats. Alicante will connect with 27 countries and 119 cities, although the figures could change since today Mazón will present new routes, the seed of which was laid at the last fair in London, as pointed out by the head of the Consell. "We will talk about new routes, new connectivity (...) because we remember that Alicante airport is the one with the most connectivity with the United Kingdom."
In the Turisme Comunitat Valenciana forecasts for Valencia there is also an increase in flights, 7.11% more, and seats, 6.9%. The Valencia airport, which aspires to have a direct connection with the United States - not in vain, on social networks they are the nationality that makes the most searches for the Valencian Community - will connect this 2024 with 28 countries, one more than last year, and a total of 96 cities, one less than last year.
