Benidorm awards the 'Europe 2024 Distinction' to Laura Navarro, director of the Alicante-Elche airport

• The Board of Spokespersons, at the proposal of Mayor Toni Pérez, recognizes its “contribution” to the growth of tourism and the “strengthening of connections with European cities”

The delivery will take place at the institutional event for Europe Day to be held at City Hall on the 9th May. 

Laura Navarro Villanueva, director of the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández airport, will receive the 'Europe 2024 Distinction' awarded by the Benidorm City Council to outstanding people, institutions or organizations for their contribution to the cohesion of the continent, coinciding with the celebration of Europe Day , which is commemorated on May 9.  

This has been unanimously agreed by the Board of Spokespersons, which has adopted the proposal of the mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez. An agreement that will materialise in a motion that will be endorsed next Monday in the ordinary municipal plenary session corresponding to the month of April. 

Born in Valencia in 1973, Laura Navarro graduated as an Industrial Engineer from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and has a postgraduate degree in Aviation Management (airport management) from Cranfield University, Bedfordshire. She began her career at AENA in 2006 and, since then, has held various positions of responsibility. Among them, she led the works of the Levante Plan, was part of the maintenance team, held a position in the airport director's office for five years and, since November 1, 2019, has been in charge as director of the Alicante Airport. Elche Miguel Hernández, classified as fifth most important in the Spanish airport network and currently among the 50 busiest in Europe.

With this 'Europe Distinction', Benidorm recognizes that “at key moments in recent history, with direct impacts on tourism such as Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the recovery process, the director of the Alicante airport “Elche has been an example of professionalism in managing the terminal.” 

Likewise, the Board of Spokespersons has also taken into account that, “under her leadership, the airport has obtained outstanding distinctions in management.” Among them, in March 2021 it received a 5-star safety rating and recognition for its excellent hygiene measures from the International Airport Council; In May 2021, it obtained Covid Safe Airport accreditation from Airport Health Accreditation (AHA); In June 2023, it was awarded the CERMI Universal Accessibility award as the Most Accessible Airport in Europe at the Accessible Airport Awards; In September 2023, it was honored with the ACI Award for Best Airport in Europe in the 15 to 25 million passengers category, for its excellent customer experience according to ACI Customer Experience. 

In 2023, Alicante Airport registered a total of 15,747,678 passengers, exceeding the record figure of 2019 by 4.6%, which was 15,047,840 passengers. This achievement confirms its success and recovery, in addition to having achieved seasonal adjustment of its operations by exceeding one million passengers in twelve of the last thirteen months.

Through its boarding gates, the airport channels almost 6% of all air visitors in the country, resulting in the creation of more than 300 direct jobs and more than 6,000 indirect jobs. And, likewise, serving as the main gateway to the province, the airport has the presence of 38 airlines that operate flights to 129 destinations in 26 countries, including 24 European destinations.

All in all, the City Council has considered Laura Navarro deserving of this 'Europe 2024 Distinction, for “her outstanding performance leading high-quality infrastructures that have contributed to the continuous growth of our tourism industry, for her constant attention to the needs of Benidorm and for having strengthened connections with the main European cities and towns, strengthening the ties that unite us all.” 

The presentation of this recognition will take place at the institutional event on the occasion of Europe Day that will be held in the Plenary Hall of the Benidorm City Council on the 9th May, at 12 noon.