One of the quirky things about taxis in the Costa Blanca is how they are permitted to operate. Licenced taxis are only allowed to pick up passengers in their licenced area. So if you travel from Orihuela Costa to Torrevieja for example, the taxi that takes you to Torrevieja cannot return to collect you for your homeward journey.

Instead, you'll need to book a separate local taxi for your return journey beforehand or call one when you're ready to head home, that's licenced to operate in Torrevieja.

It's the same for all areas of the Costa Blanca. If you're planning a special night out or a meal in a beautiful restaurant in Ciudad Quesada, any licenced Orihuela Costa taxi can take you to your destination, but only a locally booked taxi company in Ciudad Quesada can take you home.

Here's a list of licenced taxi companies that offer a local taxi service and pre-booked airport transfers for the South Costa Blanca region, including taxis in Torrevieja, Ciudad Quesada, and other popular destinations outside of Orihuela Costa.

Torrevieja Taxis

Rojales and Ciudad Quesada Taxis

Algorfa Taxis

Almoradi Taxis

Formentera Taxis

Guardamar del Segura Taxis

Los Montesinos Taxis

Taxis in Torrevieja and Costa Blanca South

You'll find taxi ranks in Torrevieja in popular locations throughout the city, such as the Town Hall, the bus station, Habaneras shopping centre, the local police station, health centres and the hospital.

Most local taxis accept bookings by WhatsApp (ideal if you don't possess fluent Spanish language skills), and phone numbers that begin with a “6” are mobile. You might need to add the country code +34 to your number before calling. You can also book via Messenger, or email if the taxi company has a website, by following the links above.

Licenced taxis accept credit and debit card payments, tips are optional (but politely recommended), and most drivers will speak your language – certainly enough to get you to your destination.

Remember to check that you're getting into a legal taxi. Licenced taxis are easy to spot, with a “Taxi” light mounted on the roof, a blue number plate at the rear of the vehicle, and the coat of arms and licence number on the front doors.

HELPFUL LINKS
> Private hire taxis, buses, and airport transfers from Alicante airport
> Private hire taxis and airport transfers from Murcia airport
> Public transport and buses on the South Costa Blanca
> Alicante airport car hire, rental cars in South Costa Blanca

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

Fortunately, the South Costa Blanca is well-served by local companies that offer a complete suite of private transport options, from individual taxi services to larger vehicles for families, groups, and parties of friends.

We've listened to the group members' feedback and compiled their personal recommendations based on their most recent travel experiences.

Here's the complete list of recommended airport transfer service providers, with the latest contact information you'll need to contact them directly, request a quote, or check availability for your dates.

Tate House Holiday Rentals, San Miguel de Salinas

Tate House offers various services for visitors to the Orihuela Costa, including car hire, holiday rental properties, and everything you might need for an enjoyable holiday here in Spain.

Their airport transfers provide a choice of vehicles to suit all party sizes, with services to both Alicante Airport and the Región de Murcia International Airport. Return transfer prices start at €140 for two people.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Costa Blanca Transfers, Alicante

Costa Blanca Transfers specialises in private-only door-to-door airport transfers from Alicante airport. The company has been rated number one on TripAdvisor since 2017 and boasts an admirable local reputation.

With a fleet of airport cars, hire cars, airport taxis, minibuses, and coaches, Costa Blanca Transfers has vehicles to suit everyone, from individual travellers and couples, to groups of friends and larger families.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Taxi Orihuela Costa, La Zenia

Taxi Orihuela Costa specialises in vehicles with a large luggage capacity, taxis for five passengers instead of four, private hire taxi transport for disabled people with limited mobility, and taxis with the capacity to accommodate a wheelchair. Private transfers to Alicante airport cost €75.

Taxis are available for short trips with no need to book in advance and the taxi company offers fixed prices for journeys to and from Alicante Airport. Online booking and an app for Android devices make booking a taxi super easy.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Taxi2 Costa Blanca, Playa Flamenca

Taxi2 Costa Blanca offers a 24-hour fully licenced taxi service in Orihuela Costa, with private taxi transfers to Alicante and Murcia airports seven days a week. Reservations can be made by telephone or online, with a website in English, Spanish, Swedish and Norwegian.

Professional and licenced drivers speak English and Spanish, credit card payments accepted, and car seats for children are carried on board. Prices from €70 for one-way private taxi transfers between Orihuela Costa and either Alicante or Murcia airports.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Radio Taxi Orihuela Costa, La Zenia

With more than 15 years of experience and a central location on the South Costa Blanca, Radio Taxi Orihuela Costa offers local taxi services and private taxi transfers to both Alicante and Murcia airports.

The established company offers a direct taxi service for a maximum of four people that operates 24 hours a day, a website with online booking, and great value prices with airport transfers starting from just €70.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

TaxiVega, Torrevieja

Airport taxi services and transfers from Alicante airport to Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada, and all locations in Orihuela Costa. Services operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and are pet-friendly too.

The company offers 9-seater vehicles to accommodate 8 passengers and standard cars for up to 4 people, with online booking, and drivers fluent in English and Spanish. Fixed prices, with transfers for just €75 or 90€ for a larger vehicle.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

TaxiCosta, Playa Flamenca

TaxiCosta offers a local private hire taxi service from Alicante airport and the Región de Murcia airport, in addition to local pickup and drop-off for routes around the Orihuela Costa.

Locally based in Playa Flamenca, TaxiCosta quotes €75 for an airport transfer for a family of four between Alicante and La Zenia, or €105 for a larger vehicle with 7 passengers.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Autocares ManchaBUS, La Zenia

Based in La Zenia, Autocares ManchaBUS is ideally located for transfers from Alicante Airport and the Región de Murcia International Airport, with prices from €85 each way for up to four people.

All-inclusive prices, one-way or return services, and an English-language website offering instant quotes based on your destination and party size, make Autocares ManchaBUS an excellent choice for your holiday travel needs.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Costa Blanca Airport Transfers, Guardamar del Segura

With a fleet of luxury vehicles at their disposal, CBA Transfers specialises in private direct taxi and airport transfers 24 hours a day. Prices to communities in the Orihuela Costa start at €75.

For those wishing to arrive in style, CBA Transfers maintains a fleet of VIP limousines for special occasions such as weddings or formal events, including a uniformed professional driver and complimentary Spanish Cava.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Benibus, Alicante

One of the most established and reputable transport services in the south Costa Blanca area, Benibus offers direct airport transfers with a fleet of comfortable, modern vehicles.

The Benibus website provides online booking, a same-day service (subject to availability), with no deposit required. The company also offers transfers to popular local towns such as Benidorm.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Taxi Alicante, Alicante

Offering VIP door-to-door private hire taxi services from Alicante airport, Taxi Alicante provide direct airport transfers to locations in the Orihuela Costa with luxury cars and prices from €89.

Their comprehensive website offers free online quotes for one-way or return airport transfers, and support for prospective customers in English, Dutch, French, German and Spanish.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Radio Taxi Elche, Alicante Airport

Radio Taxi Elche are Alicante Airport's official private hire airport taxi service, operating pre-booked taxis or cars hailed directly from the taxi rank outside the arrivals hall on the airport concourse.

The taxi company offers fixed prices for journeys to and from Alicante airport, and the fare to Orihuela Costa costs €78. Online booking and an app for Android devices make booking a taxi super easy. An app is also available for Apple mobile phones with iOS 13 or higher.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TELEPHONE

Holiday travel, airport transfers from Alicante airport

If you're considering hiring a car as an alternative to airport transfers, check out our comprehensive list of local car hire companies. Many of these rental agencies offer a simplified and customer-focused hire car service.

Finally, consider the benefits of public transport options from Alicante airport. A premium bus service runs between the airport and Torrevieja, with scheduled coaches every day of the year (including Sundays and public holidays) and low ticket prices.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's happening in the local area.

And who better to answer that question than the people that live here in the South Costa Blanca. Michelle posed the question in the Facebook Community Group earlier this week, asking “Pool heaters, are they worth it?”

Holiday home owners with private pools responded, and whilst the true cost of heating a pool in Spain through the winter will vary on a number of factors, including the electricity supplier and the chosen tariff, the results were surprisingly similar.

How much does it cost to buy a pool heater?

Local home improvements store Leroy Merlin in Zenia Boulevard supplies swimming pool heaters with prices starting from 925 € and exceeding 10.000 € for more powerful models with enough heating capacity to heat the largest of private pools.

Locally, the Pool People in Torrevieja offer a 22 kWh 75.000 Btu pool heat pump with a fitted price of 4.850 €. Their website hasn't been updated since 2015 so that price might be a little outdated, but members reported that they paid an average of 4.500 € for their pool heater.

The company notes that the swimming pool season on the Costa Blanca lasts only four months of the year, so it's no surprise that local residents are keen to maximise the use of their pool throughout the year.

The regular ongoing cost of electricity is the main expense associated with maintaining a heated pool in Spain through the cooler months, and increasing electricity prices have made a noticeable difference.

What is the cost of heating a swimming pool in Spain?

“Everything about the pool burns through the electricity, much more than we thought,” wrote Lindsey. Group member Arlene responded, “We have had the pool heat on whilst we have been here and the electric cost is rocketing”.

Members noted that it costs between 200 € and 350 € in electricity per month (dependent on the size) to maintain their heated pools at a comfortable temperature at this time of year, with an average cost of 265 € per month to heat their pool (around 9€ per day).

Group member Barry also reported that it took two days for the pool to reach the required temperature, and noted that a thermal or solar pool cover was an essential accessory to maintain the temperature without wasting electricity.

Want to know more? You can read the complete conversation in the La Zenia Community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the Orihuela Costa. Join in today.

Photo credit: Inmo Investments Real Estate S.L.

But it's not just holidaymakers that want to know the current airport parking prices. Whether living here full-time or part-time, international residents often need to leave their car at the airport for varying periods throughout the year.

Fortunately, many local businesses have stepped in to fill the void, specialising in short-stay and long-term airport parking. Many companies offer better prices than you'll find on the airport concourse.

We've collated previous customer recommendations from the La Zenia Community Facebook Group, to bring you the most recommended alternative off-site airport parking services for summer 2023.

Parking at Alicante airport, how much does it cost?

Parking at Alicante airport is managed by AENA, a Spanish Government-owned airport and logistics management company. The cost of parking one car in the long-stay general car park at Alicante airport for a week in August 2023 costs €70. The price is valid for arrivals booking in advance, and the price increases to €78 without pre-booked reservation.

Two weeks of on-site parking in August costs €88 for pre-booked cars and €147 for arrivals without a reservation in place. Two weeks of low-season airport parking in November cost the same, and prices don't tend to vary throughout the year.

Pre-booked car parking prices have increased substantially over the summer, with a week in August booked before July costing just €40. That same week booked today costs €70, an increase of 75%. A two week advanced booking that used to cost €51 will cost €88 today, an increase in excess of 70%.

Long-stay parking prices at Murcia International airport are somewhat cheaper, with a pre-booked week costing €34, a fortnight costs €42, a month costs €117, and for three months the charge would amount to €427.

Simply for comparison, parking your car at Alicante airport's long-stay car park for an entire year would cost €2,356 if booked and paid for in advance, and the cost for parking without reservation or pre-payment is positively eye-watering.

Star Parking Alicante

Star Parking Alicante offer a choice of open or covered off-site airport parking, free exterior car washing, secure long-term vehicle storage, and unlimited meet and greets for customers that take out an annual parking contract.

A 12-month airport parking plan costs €300 or €480 for car owners that prefer to specify undercover parking. The company offers off-site secure indoor parking at Alicante airport for €790 per year per car, and arranges ITV tests for an additional cost.

Specialising in long-term parking of all types and sizes of vehicles including vans, campervans, and motorhomes, Star Parking Alicante offers online booking, a website in English, Spanish, and Russian; and a parking service that operates 24-hours a day.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 611 400 215

Plane Parking S.L

Plane Parking provides short-term and long-term parking solutions for both Alicante Airport and the newer Región de Murcia International Airport in Corvera, with a combined 50,000 metres of secure parking space for travellers and residents.

Uniquely, they are the only airport parking company to offer a dual-parking contract to frequent visitors, giving their customers the choice of flying into Alicante or Murcia airports. For a nominal additional charge, they'll even transfer your vehicle for you.

Emma wrote “No question, been with them 3 years never once let us down! All of the team very nice too.” Plane Parking offers annual airport parking plans from €355 (€455 per year for both airports), unlimited pick-ups and drop-offs, and online booking.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 966 840 289

Long-term annual parking prices at Alicante airport

EuroParking Alicante Airport

EuroParking offers a basic long-term airport parking service for just €285 per year with the option to upgrade to unlimited transfers for an additional €50, and a shuttle bus service with a dedicated meeting point just outside Alicante airport's main terminal building.

Their meet and greet service costs €325 per year with an annual contract, and contracted parking prices for indoor covered spaces start at €875 a year, rising to €925 annually including a monthly meet and greet service.

The company provides 2,500 secure parking spaces, charging stations for hybrid or battery electric vehicles, car-washing and ITV services, and a website with online booking and management of your vehicle while you´re away.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 965 040 315

Top Gear Mobility

Top Gear Mobility specialises in long-term parking at Alicante airport, with packages for frequent travellers and homeowners on the Costa Blanca. All packages include pick-up and drop-off at the terminal and unlimited transfers.

Prices start at €300 per annum for “meet and greet” outside parking, with short stay holiday parking from €30 per week. All annual contract plans also include complimentary exterior washing of your car.

The company offers online booking, a complete 24-hour a-day service, and a host of optional extras such as pre-ITV services. Lorraine reported, “We have used Top Gear parking for 5 years, they bring our car into the airport for us.”

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 965 072 330

Ecoparking Alicante

Ecoparking Alicante provides off-site short-stay and long-stay parking solutions billed as “The cheapest and smartest option for parking at Alicante airport”. Yearly parking contract prices start from just 250€ with unlimited transfers included.

With a 24-hour round-the-clock service and an advertised transfer time of just one minute between their secure compound and Alicante airport's main terminal, they offer one of the fastest ways to make sure your inbound and outbound journeys go smoothly.

Their website offers online booking in English, German and Spanish, with parking prices for a one-week stay from €26, and just €47 for a two-week holiday at any time of year.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 965 683 003

Umbrella Parking

One of Umbrella Parking's unique features is the ability to park your own car and take your car keys with you when you leave your vehicle. Owners have the certainty of knowing exactly where their car is and that nobody else can drive it in their absence.

Long-term parking prices start at €270 per year for open-air car parking, €470 per annum for covered parking, and €550 per year for indoor parking. Short-term parking prices start at €12 for 2 days or €24 for one complete week.

The company offers outdoor, indoor, and covered outdoor parking for private cars, and uncovered open-air parking for larger vehicles such as motorhomes. Their website offers online booking and management in English, French, German and Spanish.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 966 445 788

Short-stay Alicante airport parking for holidays and weekend breaks

Seguro Parking, Alicante and Murcia airport

Specialising in short-stay and long-stay car parking, Seguro Parking offer services for residents and holidaymakers at locations adjacent to both Alicante airport and Murcia-Corvera airport too.

Short-stay parking for one-week costs €41 and two weeks costs €55 at either airport. Long-term contracted parking prices for a year cost €369 at Alicante airport and a dual contract for both Alicante and Murcia airports costs €455 per annum with a nominal €10 car transfer fee.

The company offers secure insured vehicle storage, the ability to offer the same service for larger vehicles, online booking, and a website in English, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Russian, and Spanish.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 622 062 115

Monster Parking

Monster Parking provide off-site parking for arrivals at Alicante airport with an airport shuttle bus service between their offices and the main terminal building. Services are offered from 06:00 until 00:00 seven days a week.

Contracted annual parking prices start at €300 per year for outdoor parking including a €60 charge for up to 12 transfers. Short-term parking costs start at €19 for a one week stay in August or €35.40 for two weeks. Charges don't vary throughout the year.

The company offers a website in English, German, and Spanish, with online booking and additional services aimed at frequent visitors and residents, such as arranging ITV inspections and pre-delivery car washing.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 651 315 116

Alicante Airport Car Parking

Alicante Airport Car Parking offer short-stay parking from €20 per week or €40 for fourteen days. Indoor parking prices cost €45 per week or €65 for a complete fortnight stay.

Long-term parking with an annual contract costs €295 per annum for standard-sized cars and MPVs, and €650 for an annual plan with indoor parking. All contracted plans include an unlimited number of transfers to and from the airport.

Short-stay parking is charged per day and includes a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport. Their website offers online booking in English, German, French, and Spanish languages.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 648 966 090

Alicante Airport Bernies Car Parking

Bernies Car Parking offers indoor and outdoor parking for vehicles at Alicante airport. Short-stay parking costs €35 per week or €40 for two weeks, or €50 per week and €75 per fortnight for indoor parking.

Annual parking contract plans start from €300 per annum for outside uncovered parking and €780 for indoor parking. Covered carport parking costs €450 per year, and the company offers secure indoor parking for campervans and motorhomes.

Bernies Car Parking offers optional maintenance services for car owners, comprehensive delivery and collection of your vehicle from the airport, online booking, and a website in English, German, French, Norwegian, and Swedish.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TEL +34 680 776 971

Looking for holiday ideas and inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

The budget Irish airline has garnered an enviable reputation over the last two years, frequently maintaining services when competing aviation businesses were cancelling flights and abandoning established routes, during undoubtedly the most catastrophic period for the travel industry in modern times.

Ryanair's customer-focused determination, often flying with almost completely empty aircraft has earned them the hallmark of Europe's most dependable and reliable airline. As one comment on the La Zenia Community Facebook Group read during a conversation about flights to Spain, “If you actually want to get there, book Ryanair.”

The carrier was a critical component in the success of the outgoing summer season, not just here in Spain but across Europe as a whole. They spearheaded the return of tourists to Spain, opening travel corridors with Germany this past Easter, and were part of the drive to bring more than 200,000 international visitors by mid-May.

Whilst Ryanair may have its fair share of critics, often citing a perceived lack of customer service, there can be no denying that when the chips were down, the company was instrumental in keeping families and friends connected during exceptionally difficult times.

Low flight ticket price for summer 2022 in Spain

Looking ahead, the ultra-low cost carrier has published its Ryanair summer 2022 flight schedule with tickets available to purchase online for dates over a year in advance, in return for pocket-friendly fares.

In many cases, tickets can be booked in advance up to Saturday 29th October 2022 with one-way prices as low as €7.99 per passenger, and the flight schedule provides important information about the routes on offer for summer 2022.

Ryanair will maintain 83 scheduled routes from Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport next year, connecting the Costa Blanca with popular local airports in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, France, Germany, and major destinations throughout the EU as far north as Stockholm in Sweden and as far east as Kaunas in Lithuania.

Direct flights between Alicante airport and the Republic of Ireland will continue throughout 2022 from Kerry, Knock and Shannon airports, in addition to regular scheduled services from Ryanair´s home town, Dublin. The service from Cork shows flights are expected to continue until Wednesday 23rd March 2022.

Services to Germany will include key destinations such as Berlin Brandenburg, Bremen, Cologne, Dusseldorf Weeze, Frankfurt International, Hamburg, Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden, Memmingen, and Nuremberg.

Direct flights to popular EU and Scandinavian airports

Scheduled flights will keep Alicante airport connected with important locations in France, including Bordeaux, Marseille, Toulouse, and the French capital's Paris Beauvais airport throughout the 2022 summer season.

Scandinavian destinations include direct flights between Alicante airport and Oslo Torp and Haugesund in Norway. Göteborg Landvetter, Växjö Småland, and Stockholm Västerås in Sweden will benefit from services throughout the summer and into the autumn next year.

The Ryanair summer 2022 flight calendar will include direct connections between the UK and Alicante airport, with services continuing into 2022 from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Newquay Cornwall, Teesside, London Luton, London Stansted, and London Gatwick airports.

Ryanair´s scheduled flights between Leeds Bradford and Alicante end Saturday 30th October 2021. Services from London Southend terminate the same day following reports in the UK press that both Ryanair and Easyjet were abandoning the Essex airport.

In a further blow to connectivity between Northern Ireland and the rest of Europe, The Guardian reports that Ryanair is pulling out of both Belfast City and Belfast International airports, bringing an end to all Ryanair flights from the region with effect from Friday 25th March 2022.

Ryanair summer 2022 flight schedule for Alicante Airport

Ryanair flights from East Midlands Airport to Alicante are scheduled to end on Sunday 26th December 2021 with nothing scheduled for the 2022 calendar year.

Local media outlet Derbyshire Live, reports that Ryanair has axed 35 European destinations from the East Midlands Airport 2022 flight calendar pending ongoing negotiations between the airline and airport management.

The Ryanair Summer 2022 flight schedule is online now, with current ticket prices and availability for direct flights to the Costa Blanca next year.

Can't find the flight you´re looking for? Alicante airport is served by a wide variety of international airlines throughout Europe including KLM, Aer Lingus, Lufthansa, TUI, Finnair, Brussels Airlines, SAS, Aeroflot, Eurowings, WizzAir, Vueling, Transavia, Norwegian, Air Europa and UK carriers easyJet, jet2, and British Airways.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: Ryanair Group, Corporate Media Centre / LaZenia.com

After months of community border restrictions, the first complete weekend of unconditional mobility combined with lighter curfew measures and a promising weather forecast is predicted to attract an influx of visitors and holiday home owners to the coastal region.

With temperatures forecast to exceed 30°c in some areas over the weekend, the authorities are preparing to enforce public safety measures.

The Valencian Government plans to coordinate with the security and police forces of the coastal municipalities and the provincial capitals to enforce the remaining safety measures in the face of the expected increase in visitors following the expiry of the state of alarm.

Authorities are keen to avoid a repetition of scenes in the capital city of Madrid, with hundreds of people celebrating the end of the restrictions without maintaining health measures such as social distancing.

Early summer travel hopes for UK tourists and visitors

With 42 arriving flights at Alicante airport just today, international passenger numbers are also on the increase, and María Reyes Maroto, Spain's Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism, has given new hope to British tourists hoping to visit Spain this summer.

Speaking on Monday, the central government minister stated that travel links between Spain and the United Kingdom should be reopened for tourism from Thursday 20th May 2021.

Minister Reyes Maroto stated that Spain plans to remove its requirement for Britons to present a negative coronavirus PCR test upon arrival from that date, provided that the infection rate in the United Kingdom remains low.

Plans to lift the PCR testing requirement form part of a broader revision of EU regulations on summer travel and tourism from outside the European Union, which the minister expected to be approved by the Spanish Government before next Thursday.

Following proposals from the European Commission published last week, European Member States are urged to ease the current restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU to take into account the progress of vaccination campaigns and developments in the epidemiological situation worldwide.

Costa Blanca infection rates in decline, vaccinations increasing

Spain´s nationwide COVID vaccination plan passed the 20-million dose milestone yesterday, with more than 6 million people fully vaccinated and 29.6% of the population having received at least one dose.

The 14-day cumulative infection rate (CCI) in the Valencian Community remains the lowest in Spain, at just 34.6 positive infections detected per 100,000 population.

That number compares favourably with the national average CCI in the United Kingdom of 44.6, and although the national average CCI in Spain stands at 180.6 both countries boast declining infection numbers.

Minister Reyes Maroto stressed that Spain must bring down its infection rate to encourage the British government to lift restrictions on returning travellers.

More than 18 million British tourists travelled to Spain in 2019, making up the biggest group of foreign visitors. But UK tourist numbers collapsed to just 3.2 million in 2020, a year in which international tourism in the country slumped 80% amid a succession of restrictions on travel.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

After a period of record low air traffic, Alicante-Elche airport will welcome 32 inbound flights today, with European tourists arriving in considerable numbers this weekend for the first time this year.

In addition to Spanish domestic flights from Madrid, Bilbao, Santiago de Compostela, Ibiza, and three services from Palma de Mallorca, the airport is expecting its second busy day of the spring season, with international flights arriving into the early hours of Monday morning.

European arrivals are expected from Stockholm and Gothenburg (Sweden), Amsterdam and Eindhoven (The Netherlands), Copenhagen (Denmark), Paris in France, and three inbound scheduled services from Brussels operated by TUI and Ryanair.

Ryanair will also provide direct services from the United Kingdom today, with arrivals expected from London-Luton, Bristol, and Newcastle regional airports.

Other airlines expected to land aircraft at Alicante airport today include services provided by Eurowings, Transavia, Qatar Airways, Scandinavian Airlines, and domestic Spanish low-cost air carrier, Vueling.

Increased travel links between Germany and Alicante airport

Notably, six flights are scheduled to arrive today from Germany. The Costa Blanca will welcome visitors from the German capital city of Berlin, in addition to services from Munich, Dusseldorf, Nuremberg, and two services from Frankfurt operated by Ryanair and Lufthansa.

The German Government lifted the ban on travel to the Valencian Community nearly three weeks ago, due to low levels of COVID contagion within the area.

Last Wednesday, Alicante airport reported that nine air links had been established with Germany with a capacity for 4,000 tourist arrivals per week effective from today. Ryanair, Lufthansa and Eurowings are expected to provide 25 regular scheduled flights each week.

The prominent increase in the number of German tourists is expected to counteract the absence of British visitors to the Alicante Province, with UK holidaymakers expected to remain absent in considerable numbers until the end of May 2021.

With virtually all EU destinations now appearing on Spain's list of risk countries, all incoming passengers will need to present a diagnostic test certificate proving negative active SARS-CoV-2 infection.

And regardless of nationality or country of departure, all arrivals will be subject to a visual assessment, a physical temperature check, and the completion of a health control form before authorised entry.

International travel, but no domestic tourism on the Costa Blanca

Alicante-Elche airport is expected to handle the travel needs of thousands of passengers over the next 24-hours, although numbers will remain significantly below previous records set during the 2019 season.

Today´s busy schedule of arrivals contrasts sharply with headlines just two weeks ago, when reports noted that Alicante airport was left without international flight connections for the first time in thirty years.

The contrast is just as marked nationally, with community borders remaining closed in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus contagions. Spanish residents are prevented from travelling outside of their communities, whilst visitors from the EU can cross the international border into the country.

The provincial news and media outlet, Información, reports that the Ministry of the Interior is mobilising 4,000 National Police and Guardia Civil officers in the Alicante Province, to ensure compliance with the restrictions on mobility between autonomous communities over the Easter period.

2,440 Policia Nacional and 1,531 Guardia Civil officers will establish 209 control points coordinated with authorities in neighbouring communities such as Murcia and Castilla La Mancha, working alongside Policia Local officers in each region.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

The incident occurred when concerned local residents spotted the animal locked inside a parked car, showing signs of severe distress and discomfort. They immediately alerted the local police.

Officers attended the scene and, concerned that the dog was in immediate danger of suffocation, broke the rear window of the vehicle and successfully rescued the animal.

The owner is facing a formal complaint, with police charging the individual alleging commission of the crime of animal abuse.

Additionally, police checks on the owner's vehicle revealed that the car did not carry a valid ITV. The vehicle was seized and removed, with the owner facing separate charges for vehicle offences.

Spanish law enforcement last week issued a stark reminder: endangering the life of an animal is a criminal offence in Spain, and offenders risk a prison sentence in addition to hefty fines.

Alicante Police, leave an animal in your vehicle and face prison

Mark Lewis, founder of the Pets in Spain animal charity in La Marina, said “Leaving any animal locked in a car in Spain in the height of summer puts the animal's life at severe risk”.

“Pet owners face additional responsibilities during the summer months”, he added. “It is vital that people understand that negligence of those responsibilities is abuse, and animal abuse of any kind cannot and will not be tolerated by Spanish law enforcement authorities”.

Residents and holidaymakers are advised to remain vigilant and to summon the nearest or fastest possible assistance from the emergency services, in the event that any animal is observed left unattended inside a stationary vehicle.

Spanish police forces are patrolling in greater numbers than ever this year to maintain the safety and security of the public at large, and their pets.

However, if assistance cannot be located at the scene, official advice is to call the local police on 092, Torrevieja police station on (+34) 965 705 326, or the emergency coordination centre on 112 which offers assistance in multiple languages.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credits: Pets in Spain and Wikimedia Commons.

The extraordinary accident happened on Saturday 24th June at Alicante-Elche international airport and involved a Vueling Airbus A320 aircraft with 153 people on board.

The plane was scheduled to make the journey from Alicante airport to Rome, taxiing away from the terminal apron towards the runway, when it collided with a stationary Peugeot car damaging the aircraft's right-hand engine.

The vehicle had been left unattended, but as a precaution the captain ordered all passengers to evacuate the jet while technicians checked the condition of the craft and its fuselage, causing a seven-hour delay.

Aviation experts on the scene said it was “extremely fortunate” that there were no injuries and pure luck that the Spanish budget plane had only been taxiing, as the slow speed avoided what could have been a much more serious incident.

Vueling: the service vehicle should not have been near the aircraft

In a statement released yesterday, Vueling said that the vehicle should not have been anywhere near the aircraft at the time of the collision, and that the car would not have been visible from the cockpit.

The impact damaged part of the fuselage and the engine housing, rendering the jet unable to fly, and all passengers eventually departed for their Italian destination on a replacement flight to Fiumicino.

There were a number of families on board headed for Rome for time-sensitive celebrations. Arrangements were made for them to get the next flight out.

The remaining passengers had to wait for later replacement flights. It is understood that the vehicle involved was part of the budget airline's service fleet.

Alicante airport reports that a full investigation has been opened to discover why the car was still on the runway when the plane was preparing to take off.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: Rita Sobot / Tenerife News