A new £20million plan will give a Spanish airport a “dedicated area” for UK flights in a huge boost for millions of tourists.

Alicante-Elche Airport is expanding a terminal to have an area for non-Schengen Zone services after a record number of passengers used the airport in 2024.

The Transport Ministry has promised the improvements after rejecting calls for a second runway last year, saying it will “aim to meet future demand, improve passenger service quality and boost operational efficiency”.

Alicante mayor Luis Barcala said: “I welcome the news which will allow the airport to cater for its growing number of users, but we still need a second runway comparable to what Malaga has.”

Valencian Tourist Minister Marian Cano said the news was a “step in the right direction, but insufficient due to no progress over a second runway and the lack of a rail link to the airport”.

Work will begin in 2027 once the national airport investment plan has been drafted and the go-ahead given for construction.

The new terminal zone will accommodate UK arrivals and departures, with airport operator Aena saying it will allow “future demand for non-Schengen arrivals to be managed”.

The Schengen Zone allows for no passport checks between European Union member countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland who belong to the European Free Trade Association.

The work will also see a new centralised border control and the installation of Automated Tray Return Systems (ATRS) machinery to shorten waiting times through security.

A new cabin baggage detection system will also eliminate the need to remove electronic devices and liquids from suitcases during inspections.

The expanded terminal will have shops and catering as well as a dedicated VIP lounge for non-Schengen area passengers, in addition to the existing VIP lounge.

This comes after it was revealed that the airport saw a record number of passengers in 2024, with almost 15.9 million people using the facility from January to October.

This beats the 2023 record of 15.75 million passengers, a growth rate of 16.5%. The UK was the main market with 594,284 users, followed by the Netherlands with 114,560, and Germany with 106,688.