Spending months dreaming about a getaway only to land at your destination and find yourself trapped in a soul-destroying, three-hour border queue is no way to start a holiday. With the EU’s biometric Entry-Exit System (EES) now fully active, those airport lines have transformed from a minor holiday nuisance into an absolute boss battle, especially if you are flying from outside Europe’s Schengen zone.
In fact, budget airline giant Ryanair recently singled out a handful of major European travel hubs for being completely ‘not ready’ to handle the summer traffic, citing a severe lack of staff, automated kiosks and system readiness.
But if you are a regular on the sunny Spanish holiday run, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport – one of the busiest in Spain – has officially announced a jaw-dropping £985 million (€1.15 billion) mega-upgrade designed to completely smash those border lines.
A new terminal for non-Schengen traffic
So, where is all that cash actually going? The huge five-year project, scheduled to run from 2027 to 2031, is getting an initial injection of €453 million to kick things off.
The crown jewel of the expansion is a brand-new terminal built specifically for international, non-Schengen traffic. This terminal will feature a centralised digital border control area packed with high-tech biometric kiosks. Think of these as ultra-smart checkpoints that scan your face, fingerprints and passport digits simultaneously, digitally registering you into the EU’s new database. It completely cuts out the slow, manual pen-and-stamp routines of the past. The goal is simple: get travellers through the automated passport checks as fast as possible so you can head straight to the beach.
What else is changing?
It’s not all about surviving passport control. Airport operator Aena wants to make the pre- and post-flight experience just as smooth. Say goodbye to tarmac bus transfers, as new aircraft boarding gates mean passengers can walk straight off the plane via a proper, air-conditioned walkway instead of being crammed onto a sweaty shuttle.
Inside the airport, blueprints include a sprawling new VIP lounge alongside expanded retail and duty-free shopping areas. Perfect if you need to kill time before heading to the first-ever European airport Wetherspoons branch.
Arrivals are getting a headache-free upgrade too, with the main car park buildings extending, so you won’t have to wander around endlessly trying to find your rental car spot.
The whole plan is currently sitting with the Spanish Government’s Council of Ministers, with final sign-off expected by September 30.
Planning a Spanish escape before the builders move in? Check out our ultimate guide to the best things to do in Alicante, from hidden beaches to historic castles.
Plus: These are officially the best airports in the world for 2026.
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