Ibiza Seeks Direct Flights from the U.S. to Boost High-Spending Tourism
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Ibiza’s tourism authorities are working to establish at least one weekly direct flight between the United States and the island, according to a report by Diario de Ibiza, citing Juan Miguel Costa, Ibiza’s Director of Tourism. The initial goal is to secure flights from key U.S. cities such as New York, Miami, or Atlanta.
Currently, American tourists reach Ibiza via stopovers in Madrid, London, Paris, or Palma de Mallorca. Speaking at the recent ITB Berlin trade fair, Costa acknowledged that securing a direct route "won’t happen overnight, as it is a complex process." However, he emphasized the support of major U.S. hotel chains established on the island, including Marriott, Hyatt, and Six Senses, which are eager to attract high-net-worth travelers.
The Appeal of the U.S. Market
The U.S. market is particularly attractive due to high visitor spending. According to official data cited by Diario de Ibiza, in 2023, the average American tourist spent €2,024 during their stay in Spain, approximately €800 more than the average foreign visitor—a 60% difference. Costa highlighted that this affluent traveler segment has a strong demand for leisure and dining services and is less price-sensitive.
Currently, beyond Madrid and Barcelona, other Spanish cities set to have nonstop U.S. connections this summer include:
- Málaga – United Airlines (daily flight from Newark)
- Bilbao – United Airlines (three weekly flights from Newark)
- Palma de Mallorca – United Airlines (four weekly flights from Newark)
Strategic Initiatives to Attract U.S. Travelers
To stimulate demand, Ibiza’s authorities are engaging in strategic talks with leading travel platforms such as Expedia—the largest U.S. travel operator—alongside Booking.com and Amadeus. These discussions aim to develop targeted promotional campaigns to increase Ibiza’s visibility, as U.S. searches for the island on these platforms continue to grow.
A delegation from the Consell de Ibiza will also participate in Routes Europe, set to take place April 8–10 in Seville, where they will meet with U.S. airlines already operating in Spain, such as Delta and American Airlines, to explore potential agreements.
Ibiza’s Current International Air Connectivity
At present, Ibiza’s international flight network is heavily concentrated in Europe. According to Aviacionline and Cirium data, in July 2025, one of the peak months of the summer season, Ibiza will be served by an average of 697 weekly flights from cities including:
Amsterdam, Antwerp, Stockholm, Athens, Berlin, Belfast, Milan, Birmingham, Bologna, Bordeaux, Bournemouth, Bari, Bristol, Brussels, Basel, Paris, Bolzano, Copenhagen, Cardiff, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, East Midlands, Exeter, Rome, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Geneva, Hanover, Hamburg, Leeds, Lisbon, Liverpool, Luxembourg, Lyon, Manchester, Malta, Marseille, Munich, Naples, Nice, Newcastle, Nantes, Norwich, Porto, Oslo, Bruges, Bucharest, Prague, Pisa, Rotterdam, Stuttgart, Toulouse, Salzburg, Turin, Venice, Vienna, Verona, and Zurich.
The international market in Ibiza is dominated by low-cost carriers, with:
- Ryanair holding 22.1% of available seat capacity
- Vueling at 18.7%
- EasyJet at 11.5%
Other key airlines serving Ibiza include Jet2, Iberia, Eurowings, Air Europa, British Airways, TUI, and Transavia.
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