The FBOs at Ibiza. One small building, and a very crowded summer.
Ibiza's business aviation runs through a single general aviation terminal on the far side of the field. In July and August the building works perfectly well. The apron outside it is the constraint, and it shapes everything about your day.
The terminal
Ibiza business aviation, at a glance
- AirportIbiza (IBZ / LEIB)About seven kilometres south west of Ibiza Town, behind the salt pans. Operated by Aena, open around the clock.
- The terminalA dedicated general aviation buildingSeparate from the main terminal, with its own road approach, lounges and formalities. Refurbished and reopened under a handling franchise in 2018.
- Handling hoursRound the clock in seasonThe terminal handlers publish continuous cover through the summer and a long day through the winter, with an extension available on request.
- ParkingThe real constraintBetween 1 May and 15 October, larger general aviation aircraft staying more than about three hours need stand approval before an airport slot can even be requested.
Cars on Ibiza are arranged through operators we know and brief. Odyssey Connections owns its cars and employs its chauffeurs in London and Manchester only.
The handlers
Who you will be handled by
| Handler | Worth knowing |
|---|---|
| Sky Valet | The best known name in the general aviation terminal, with lounges and crew areas inside the building. The Sky Valet network in Spain changed owner in 2024 and now sits within the Luxaviation group alongside ExecuJet, so you may see either name on paperwork. |
| Aviapartner Executive | The other handler with a presence inside the terminal, and the name that appears on a good share of summer charter movements. |
| General Aviation Service | A Spanish handler that also works business aviation at Ibiza and is named in current listings. |
Your operator appoints the handler, usually before you are told the aircraft type. Listings for Ibiza disagree with one another and the terminal franchise has changed within the last decade, so we reconfirm the handler and the building for every movement. Odyssey Connections claims no relationship with any of these companies.
Planning it
The building is fine. The apron is the problem.
Ibiza in August behaves like nowhere else in the Mediterranean. The island is small, the general aviation apron is smaller, and the whole of northern Europe wants to arrive on the same Friday afternoon. The normal pattern in the peak weeks is drop and go: the aircraft lands, unloads, and leaves for Palma, Valencia or Barcelona to wait, then comes back for you. Your operator arranges all of it and you may never hear about it, but it explains why departure timings are less flexible in August than you expect.
It also explains why a car that is already on the island and already waiting is worth more here than almost anywhere. A quick turnaround on a crowded apron is not the moment to be calling for a vehicle. We position early, we confirm the terminal gate rather than the main terminal, and we brief the driver on the exact villa, not the village.
That last point matters more on Ibiza than on Mallorca. A great many of the best houses sit at the end of unmade tracks with no number, no sign and a gate that only opens from inside. A postcode is not an address here. We ask for a pinned location, the gate arrangement and a name and number for someone on site, and we ask for it when the booking is made rather than on the day.
What we do about it
How an Ibiza arrival is set up
What an assistant booking a July week needs to have settled.
- Handler and terminal gate confirmed by name, because the general aviation building has its own approach away from the main terminal road
- A pinned location for the villa, the gate arrangement and an on site contact, given at the time of booking
- Ramp side collection only where the terminal permits it and the arrangement is made in advance. Otherwise the car is at the terminal door, a few steps away
- Vehicles sized for the luggage rather than the party. Island roads and villa driveways are narrow, and the largest vehicle is not always the right one
- Sunset and the Friday and Sunday afternoon waves are the two things that break a schedule here. We build the departure around them
- If you are going on to Formentera, the fast ferry from Ibiza port is the sensible way and the crossing needs booking. See Marina Ibiza for the harbour side
Onward
Typical drive times from the terminal
| To | Quiet roads | July and August |
|---|---|---|
| Ibiza Town, Dalt Vila and Marina Botafoch | 10 to 20 minutes | 25 to 40 minutes |
| Cala Jondal and Es Cubells | 20 to 30 minutes | 30 to 45 minutes |
| Sant Josep and the south west villas | 20 to 30 minutes | 30 to 50 minutes |
| Santa Eulalia and Cala Llonga | 25 to 35 minutes | 40 to 60 minutes |
| Sant Joan, Benirras and the north | 45 to 60 minutes | 1 hour to 1 hour 30 |
| Formentera, by fast ferry from Ibiza port | Allow 1 hour 15 door to door | Allow 2 hours, and book the crossing |
Realistic ranges, not promises. The island has two real roads and both funnel through the Ibiza Town ring. The hours around sunset are the worst of the day.
Request a quote
Tell us the movement
Date, tail number or operator, the handler if you know it, passengers, luggage and the villa or hotel. Nothing is booked or charged online.
Prefer to talk? +44 2030 048300 or WhatsApp, at any hour.
Questions people ask
About the Ibiza terminal
Which handler will I be with?
Your operator chooses. They work from the same general aviation building, but the lounges and desks differ, so we confirm the handler in writing before the day.
Is it Sky Valet or ExecuJet now?
Both names are in circulation. The Spanish Sky Valet network was bought by the Luxaviation group in 2024 and folded in alongside ExecuJet, and the Sky Valet name is still being used locally. We check which one your trip sheet means.
Why is my aircraft leaving without us?
Because the apron is full. In peak summer the normal pattern is to drop passengers and reposition to the mainland or to Palma, returning for the departure. It is routine, and your operator will have planned it.
Can the car come to the aircraft?
Where the terminal permits it and it is arranged in advance. It is less commonly available here in peak season than at quieter fields.
Are these your own cars and chauffeurs?
No. Odyssey Connections owns and employs in London and Manchester. On Ibiza the car comes from an operator we know and brief, and we stay responsible for the arrangement.
We deal with problems before you know they exist