Ryanair passenger numbers drop at Alicante-Elche

RYANAIR lost passengers for the first time since it began operating from Alicante-Elche six years ago.

The Irish low-cost airline carried 2,605,477 passengers in 2014, more than 67,000 fewer than in 2013, likely due to the increase in other airlines at Alicante matching Ryanair on destinations, such as Vueling, easyJet and Norwegian air.

The decline comes as Alicante-Elche airport recorded its busiest year ever, exceeding 10 million passengers in 2014. Ryanair, however, remains the leading carrier transporting more passengers than any other airline at the airport.