Planespotting Alicante — LEAL
Alicante-Elche is the airport for Benidorm and the Costa Blanca and one of mainland Spain's busiest leisure gateways. Unlike many sun destinations it doesn't empty out in winter: thousands of northern Europeans keep second homes in the region, so the low-cost rotations continue all year. Everything happens on a single 3,000 m runway, 10/28, running east–west with the terminal on the north side and the Mediterranean just beyond the eastern end. Runway 10 (arrivals from the west over the Elche plain) is the usual direction for most of the year, while 28 takes over more often in winter. For spotters that single runway is the attraction: a rough track runs along the southern perimeter, so you can pick a spot near either threshold or in the middle and see every movement. Expect an overwhelmingly narrowbody diet with the odd surprise, and plan on a car — the spots are not served by public transport.
Conditions right now
Runways
- 10/28 RWY 28 3,137 × 45 m · 10,292 × 148 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 17:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody90%
- Bizjet4%
- Turboprop3%
- GA2%
- Widebody1%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Broken wall at the runway 28 touchdown (El Altet)
A sturdy section of broken wall right by the fence on the south side near the 28 touchdown zone. Arrivals on 28 come in with apartment blocks behind them, and you also see departures and the parallel taxiway; runway 10 departures and some 10 arrivals work too.
- Getting there
- By car only. From the N-332 take the El Altet (Norte) / CV-849 exit, go to the roundabout and take Avinguda Sant Francesc; turn right just before the San Francisco de Asís parish church and wind through the short side streets to the fence. A small supermarket on Avinguda Sant Francesc is the nearest shop.
- Best time
- Mainly for westerly operations (landings on 28), which are more common in winter. Avoid summer mornings and early afternoon, when the light and heat haze work against you; later in the day is better.
- Lens
- 100–120 mm for an A320 at touchdown, around 190 mm for the taxiway.
Dirt mound mid-field (CV-849 track)
The classic Alicante position: a small earth mound beside the gravel track on the south side, roughly opposite the middle of the runway. It lifts you just above the fence for every take-off and landing in either direction, with the terminal apron visible in the distance. Families come here simply to watch the planes.
- Getting there
- From El Altet continue past the church on the CV-849 for about 1.3 km to the next roundabout, take the first exit and turn right on the dirt track along the fence. Park beside the track.
- Best time
- Works in both runway directions. Afternoon and evening give the best light; heat haze is the main enemy on hot summer days.
- Lens
- 100–120 mm for runway shots; longer if you want the distant apron.
Rocks by the fence — runway 10 end
About half a kilometre further west along the same track, a grass verge with a few rocks next to the fence gives the best angle when runway 10 is active, covering both arrivals and departures at that end. The rocks only partly clear the fence, so a small step ladder helps.
- Getting there
- Continue west from the mid-field mound until the road bends left, then drive a few metres along the fence on the bumpy track. Nothing here — bring water. Airport security has been known to ask spotters to move on at this position; comply if asked.
- Best time
- Runway 10 operations, typical from spring to autumn. Like the other south-side spots, avoid summer mornings and early afternoon.
- Lens
- 130 mm for an A220-size jet, up to 300 mm for smaller bizjets.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Ryanair is by far the biggest operator, followed by easyJet, Jet2, TUI and Vueling; Norwegian, Wizz Air and the main flag carriers (British Airways, Aer Lingus, KLM, Lufthansa, SAS and others) add colour. The UK is the largest market, so British registrations are everywhere, with Scandinavian, Dutch, Belgian and Polish traffic close behind. Air Algérie links the city with North Africa. Widebodies are rare and usually one-off charters or diversions. The schedule peaks from June to September, yet winter stays unusually busy thanks to long-stay residents, making Alicante one of the few Spanish leisure airports worth visiting off-season.
What actually flew over Alicante in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- B738 22.2 %
- B38M 11.1 %
- A319 11.1 %
- CRJX 11.1 %
- SIRA 11.1 %
- TWEN 11.1 %
- TB21 11.1 %
- A320 11.1 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Alicante?
Spotterra's live map shows every aircraft over Alicante and the Costa Blanca in real time — type, registration, origin and destination. It's free and works in any browser, using ADS-B data.
Which runway is in use at Alicante?
There is only one, 10/28. Runway 10 (arrivals from the west) is the normal direction for most of the year; 28 is used more often in winter. Spotterra predicts the active direction from the current METAR.
Can I spot at Alicante without a car?
Not realistically. The useful positions are all on the south side along the CV-849 and the perimeter track, and no public transport serves them. A rental car from the terminal is the practical option.
Does Alicante airport run spotter events?
Yes — Aena has held several 'Spotter Day' events at Alicante-Elche with access to positions near both runway ends. They are announced on Aena's press pages and fill up quickly, so watch for the next date.
Spotterra watches the sky over Alicante
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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