Ryanair has announced that it will base an additional three B737-800 aircraft in Alicante from March 2010, allowing the Dublin based carrier to open seven new destinations and increase frequency on existing services. The adding of the extra based units takes the FR tally in ALC to 9 aircraft. The seven new routes that will be operated are

• Altenburg
• Krakow
• Seville
• Smaland
• Stockholm (Vasteras)
• Valladolid
• Venice

Ryanair will increase its postion as being the number carrier in Alicante in terms of flights operated and passenger numbers. According to November weekly schedules, Ryanair operates 388 weekly services giving it a market share of 26%. Spanish national carrier Iberia and its partners are the second largest carrier in the popular holiday resort with a market share of 18%.

Comparing Ryanair to other low cost carriers, easyJet operate 207 flights (13% market share), Air Berlin operates 103 weekly flights, Transavia 50 and Norwegian 37. Monarch Airlines operates a mix of low cost scheduled and charter traffic, and is the third largest carrier in terms of seat capacity with a 7% market share.