This week, the Compromís group in the Alicante City Council did not support a proposal to build a second runway at the airport Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez. They believe this is just a distraction by the mayor to take attention away from the tourism problems in the region. The main reasons for objections from Compromís opponents of a second runway were such as:
– the lack of a rail connection between the airport and the city of Alicante. Indeed, at the moment it is only possible to get from the airport to Alicante or Elche by bus, car or taxi. This creates problems and inconvenience not only for tourists but also for workers.
– Impacts that could arise from the construction of the second strip, such as harmful effects on the environment, increased noise levels in the area, and disturbance of natural areas in the district. The construction will affect protected and public areas such as Saladar de Agua Amarga and will damage the environment. In addition, noise pollution will increase in residential areas such as Torrellano, El Altet and Urbanova.
– The municipality of Elche will also be affected by changes to the urban layout. The Compromís propose to prioritize the region’s tourism plan, the rehabilitation and restoration of the architectural heritage, and then consider other proposals related to increasing passenger traffic.
What do you think about it? Elche-Alicante airport is often busy, a second runway would give the opportunity to open new destinations for flights, such as Turkey. This would have a positive impact on the number of tourists, because the easier and faster the route, the more people who want to come.