World Aviation Group offers helicopter flights over Madrid for its luxury clients. For these customers, it’s as routine as hailing a taxi.
Some people finish work at the Cuatro Torres, hop into a helicopter, and in less than an hour, they’re playing golf in Sotogrande. Others use the service to take their partner for dinner in Ibiza or to impress a companion with a flight over Madrid. Helicopter flights offer a unique way to experience the city, accessible to only a few. “These luxury passengers are increasingly seeking VIP experiences like this,” says Fernando Gómez, spokesperson for World Aviation Group.
This travel option adds extra value to Madrid’s tourism, with American clients, in particular, showing interest in such experiences as they are accustomed to this mode of transport, often flying to destinations accessible only by helicopter.
The trips are entirely customized, offering a “door-to-door” service. Helicopters can land in any open space of 30 by 30 meters, as long as aviation regulations permit. The maximum flight time is two and a half hours.
Many VIP clients arrive at Barajas Airport by private jet and opt to complete their journey by helicopter. “We pick them up at the airport, transfer them to Cuatro Vientos Airport, and from there, they can take off to their estate,” says Paloma Ramos, the company’s sales manager. These passengers often book through luxury agencies that include this type of leisure experience, while others, usually business executives, prefer to avoid the hassle of waiting at airports or being stuck in traffic. “My clients value time above all else, and they’d rather take a helicopter than waste hours waiting or driving,” Ramos adds.
The typical clients for this luxury helicopter service are mostly men over 40 and wealthy couples. A 20-minute panoramic tour of Madrid costs €235 for up to six people, while a private one-hour transfer can range from €2,800 to €4,500 in a Bell helicopter. According to pilot Pawel Kocot, the demand for these services is particularly high in summer. Passengers prioritize privacy and exclusivity, starting their journey from a secluded hangar at Cuatro Vientos Airport, bypassing traditional security checks.
During the 20-minute flight, passengers can enjoy views of the Cuatro Torres, the Guadarrama mountains, and large villas with pools outside the M-30, although the helicopters are not permitted to fly over central Madrid.
At the end of the flight, the pilot allows the passenger next to them to take control of the helicopter for a few seconds, giving them a taste of flying at over 2,000 feet. World Aviation Group’s website offers an even more thrilling experience: becoming a pilot for a day, with professional instruction and access to advanced simulators.
In Madrid, the market for private transfers or air taxis, often used by businesspeople to save time, is still developing. Spain has only eight companies licensed for such services, aiming to reach the level of cities like Paris, New York, or São Paulo, where helicopters are a common mode of urban transport.
Currently, only a few luxury tourists occasionally use these services for private travel. Tissem Lansac, who assists VIP foreign clients at the airport, notes that each client has unique needs and preferences. “When working in the luxury sector, nothing surprises you anymore. These clients love flying in helicopters and don’t find it strange to spend nine thousand euros on a trip to dine at their favorite restaurant in Ibiza.”
