Ibiza Airport (IBZ) Flights & Flight Status

Ibiza Airport serves not only the legendary party capital of the White Isle but also its neighbouring Balearic island, Formentera. The anticipation and the aftereffects of an Ibiza holiday are somehow unique and can whip visitors into something of a frenzy. As a result, it’s an airport where anything can happen – and it often does.

This is a hyper seasonal destination. For most of the year it’s a domestic airport primarily serving the Spanish mainland and islands. But from the start of May until the end of September, it gets riotously busy with international visitors. Urban legend claims it to be the airport with the most missed flights in the world – I can understand why.

Airlines serving Ibiza Airport

Passenger numbers have grown consistently over the last decade culminating in 2023 when just shy of 10 million tourists and partygoers passed through its gates. This has brought a rise in the number of airlines flying in and out. Currently, it operates 34 airlines flying direct to 84 destinations, although that flight calendar varies hugely season by season.

As is the modern standard for all small to medium size airports in Europe, the majority of airlines are of the low-cost variety. Ryanair, easyJet, TUI are the major operators by route, with Vueling close behind – Ibiza serving as a seasonal base for the budget Spanish brand. The biggest by flight numbers, however, is Spanish flag carrier Iberia. While it operates very few routes, just one to neighbouring Mallorca accounts for nearly 20% of all the airport’s flights.

Although the airport’s single runway is capable of handling long range aircraft, there are currently no long haul routes served. Instead, all destinations are a strictly European affair and the vast majority of services are seasonal, running mostly from May to October.

Travelling to and from Ibiza Town and the rest of the island

Transport options to and from the airport are minimal, as there are no trains on the island. As the airport lies only four miles from the centre of Ibiza Town, it’s not exactly a trek to get there. Unless you’re staying in the capital, the car is king and you’ll need to rent one or rely on the many taxis and private transfers that keep the island moving.

Bus

The only public transport option is the Route 10 bus. Departing the airport every 25 or so minutes, it takes around 20 minutes to get into the town centre bus station for onward travel around the island. Other stops include the ferry port for the 30-minute boat ride to neighbouring Formentera. The bus is an easy and inexpensive option if you’re staying in town, but be warned that it gets busy in the summer and queues can mean a long wait.

Two more bus lines run seasonally to other tourist hotspots around the island. Route 24 connects the airport to Santa Eularia and Cala Nova from May 23 to October 15. Route 9 goes to San Jose and San Antonio and runs from June 1 until October 12.

Taxi and private transfer

The airport has a permanent fleet of 69 taxis running year round, with an additional 70 brought in for the summer months from June to September. You’ll find them at the rank directly outside the terminal. Rates are fixed and unlike many Spanish taxi fares, your luggage rides for free!

Many people opt for one of the private transfer services that litter the island, characterised by Mercedes people carriers with blacked out windows, a look designed to live up to their VIP moniker. You can book them for individual trips or as a regular resource to get around the island during your trip. They’re particularly handy if you’re staying at one of the many amazing private villas far from the tourist melée.

Car hire

The most practical and cost effective way to get around is by car – as long as someone’s happy to be the designated driver of course. You’ll find rental desks in arrivals for the big name brands, but step outside and there’s a glut of local companies offering everything from camper vans to beach buggies. As always, do your research and book online in advance, but from my experience, I would advise against using Goldcar or Inter-Rent.

Navigating the airport

Externally, the airport has a retro design that I’ve always liked. Inside its multiple renovations have created a much more modern looking big, bright and well thought out space. There’s just one terminal, separated over two floors. Although it’s spacious and smartly designed, the terminal undoubtedly struggles in peak months. Huge crowds make it slow to get around – expect to find yourself climbing over prostrate partygoers in a variety of conditions. Signposts are in English and Spanish and are, thankfully, clear and logical.

The ground floor is given over to arrivals in the middle and, on the right side as you enter, departures with check in, bag drop and security. Passport control for Non-Schengen departures are upstairs, where once through you’ll find a range of shops and restaurants as well as the gates. In the departures area, I particularly like the banks of seating facing outward over the runway with lovely views of the Mediterranean beyond.

Check in, bag drop and security

The departure hall is a big open space lined on one side by 71 check-in desks. To give you an indication of the seasonality of the airport, a full 50 of them are closed from October to May. Off season, things run smoothly and you can expect a maximum queue time of 20 minutes to drop your bags.

Come high season, even those extra 50 desks struggle to meet demand. Expect very long queues for both check in and bag drop and at their worst, waits of at least an hour. For refreshments while you wait, in place of a café you have the Gambrinus bar serving beer, wine and tapas directly opposite the desks. Outside you’ll find the Corona bar, perfect for a last beer in the sun. Both are an indication of the clientele the airport serves!

In my experience, security is well handled with professional staff, but as always is subject to the whims of crowds. When it’s really busy, the Fast Track service can be worth its weight in gold, although I’ve never had need of it. As a large portion of Ibizan tourists are British, passport control can be a worse choke point. The mantra then is to find out before you go how busy it’s likely to be, and give yourself enough time accordingly.

Shopping and eating airside

I’m a big fan of Ibiza’s airside vibe. It has a chilled, slow-paced atmosphere with a lovely mix of cool cafés, bars and shops. Essentially a long, wide corridor, it’s framed the length of one side with windows overlooking the runway, dotted with gates. It takes five to ten minutes to walk end to end, depending on how distracted you get along the way. The views are great.

Alongside the expected big brands and massive duty free, there’s lots of quirky stuff to indulge in. From the Hippy Corner Ibizan market store to the Ushuaïa Beach Club merch outlet, there are plenty of chances to pick up a last minute memento. Look around and you’ll notice the most popular gift appears to be the ensaïmada pastry in its classic blue and white octagonal box. They’re admittedly delicious but actually originate from Mallorca, not Ibiza.

If you’re hungry or thirsty, bypass the obligatory Irish Bar, O’Leary’s, and head for the StrEat food market with its mixture of snacks and international dishes. For something more Spanish, Enrique Tomás has a selection of cured Iberian jamón and decent wines. Post party holiday, rehydration is of course vital. Shamefully, as is the case with so many European airports, there are no free water fountains. The tap water is drinkable, but it doesn’t taste great. Bottled water is expensive.

Cap des Falco VIP Lounge

To the right of gates 1 and 2 is the Cap des Falco VIP Lounge, although it’s VIP in name and price only. Tickets are available six months ahead of time, so book early if you’re keen as there are always plenty of takers. Quite why I’m not sure, as it’s a small and criminally understaffed setup. Service is thus slow and the lounge is often cluttered with used dishes and dirty tables.

I visited it once and swore never to again. Much better to buy some snacks, snag a seat looking over the runway and out onto the Med and drink in the fine Ibizan panorama one last time before you fly.