On 6 December 2026, Valencia will once again welcome runners from all over the world. All 36,000 bib numbers for the 2026 Valencia Marathon edition have already sold out, confirming the event’s strong international appeal.
As the marathon approaches, the journey has already begun in a runner’s mind. There is the adrenaline, the final doubts about race pace, the constant checking of the weather forecast and that feeling of wanting to be there already, standing on the start line.
That is why, on an international sports trip, the flight matters too. Stopovers, inconvenient schedules or groups travelling on different flights can add unnecessary pressure when every ounce of energy should be focused on the race.
For the Valencia Marathon 2026, Flyness is organising two charter flights for runners and their companions, one departing from Milan Malpensa and the other from Bergamo. The project shows how air transport can be built around a sporting event’s timing, well before the race itself begins.
When can a charter flight work for a marathon group?
A charter flight can be an effective option when a large group of runners need to reach the same destination on the same dates, and the journey must fit around the race programme.
At an international marathon, everything happens within a relatively short time: arrival in the city, hotel check-in, race number collection, pre-race activities, the competition itself and the return journey. For a travel agency or tour operator, splitting participants across several flights often means multiplying transfers and coordination points.
A charter flight, by contrast, allows the operation to be built around the event. It also doesn’t
necessarily require one agency to purchase all the available seats. Several operators can share the aircraft capacity: one agency might reserve 20 seats, another 30, and so on until the flight is filled.
This means each agency can rely on the seat allocation agreed during the planning stage without having to take on the aircraft’s entire capacity.
A charter can be particularly useful when:
- Many participants are travelling from the same geographical area.
- Demand for the destination is particularly high around the race dates.
- The programme does not fit well with scheduled airline timetables.
- Runners and their companions need to travel together.
- Several agencies agree to share the flight’s capacity.
- Flights, transfers and accommodation need to be coordinated as part of the same travel plan.
However, there is no threshold for all. Route, passenger numbers, airport, aircraft availability and the time of year all affect feasibility and the operation’s cost.
How are sports charter flights organised for runners?
Planning of a sports charter flight starts with the group. Passenger numbers, area of origin, the race calendar and the programme at destination are are the starting points.
These factors shape the flight operation.
Passenger numbers and departure airports
The first question is how many people need to travel and where they are coming from.
Understanding the geographical distribution of participants helps identify the most practical departure airport and and assess whether it is better to concentrate the group at a single airport or consider alternative solutions.
Only after this initial analysis can we begin to define compatible aircraft for required capacity, route and operating characteristics.
Flight times need to fit the race programme
For a marathon trip, flight times need to follow a very specific logic.
Arrival should allow enough time for the hotel transfer, collecting the race number, any scheduled pre-race activities and some time to rest. The return flight also needs to take account of the group’s programme and the recovery time required after the race.
Charter planning therefore starts by fitting the flight operation around the ground programme.
Choosing the right aircraft depends on several factors
Passenger numbers matter, but they are not the only factor in choosing an aircraft.
Other factors include:
- Route length.
- Departure and arrival airports.
- Carrier availability.
- Required capacity.
- Aircraft configuration.
- Volume and type of baggage.
- Services required.
- Overall budget for the operation.
The air charter broker role is to bring all these variables together and identify the most suitable option among those available.
Baggage and equipment: what changes for a group of runners?
Marathon runners don’t necessarily travel like ordinary tourists. When planning, racing shoes, technical clothing, competition items, and personal luggage must be taken into account.
The baggage allowance depends on the carrier and is agreed with the broker. For this reason, when organising a charter flight for runners, baggage requirements need to be included in the initial brief rather than addressed only shortly before departure.
This is important because it allows the agency to inform passengers in advance about the permitted baggage weight.
How does the charter fit into the travel agency’s programme?
Flyness manages the air transport component, while travel agencies and tour operators build the overall trip for runners and their companions.
However, the activities are closely connected.
Arrival time affects transfer arrangements. Departure time may determine how many hotel nights are required. The group number influences local transport and passenger management.
The flight is therefore planned in coordination with whoever is designing the programme at destination, so that it fits naturally into the overall trip. Maratona di Valencia 2026
Valencia Marathon 2026: a real-world sports charter case
The Valencia Marathon provides a practical example of how these dynamics work.
The 2026 edition has 36,000 places available and is already sold out. The organisers have also introduced a ballot system to allocate the places remaining after the priority period reserved for runners from the previous edition.
The event’s international scale is also clear from the 2025 figures: the previous edition recorded 36,000 entries and 30,777 finishers, with more than 24,000 international participants from 150 countries. Of those finishers, 1,672 were Italian, accounting for around 5.4% of the total.
For the 2026 edition, Flyness is organising two charter flights for runners and their companions, departing from Milan Malpensa and Bergamo.
The two flights from different airports serve groups from different catchment areas and illustrate one of the principles behind charter planning: the operation is built around demand and the needs of those organising the trip rather than following a fixed model.
For the marathon case, the challenge is to let the flight work in step with everything happening before and after the race.
Seat distribution can also be managed with different logic than entire aircraft rental by a single entity. In fact, several agencies can block different contingents on the same flight, based on their own needs and remaining availability. For the agency, this means counting on the agreed-upon seats for its group, without necessarily having to support the entire aircraft capacity alone. For Flyness, it means coordinating different needs within the same flight project.
This is what makes Valencia an interesting operational case: it’s not simply the two charter flights, but the work required to turn several group needs for the same event into a coordinated air operation.
Charter or scheduled flights for a sports group?
A charter is not automatically the best solution for every sports trip. The choice depends on passenger numbers, destination, travel dates and the overall programme.
For a large group, however, the comparison should not stop at the price of an individual ticket.
| Factor | Charter flight | Scheduled flight |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Built around the project, within the available operational constraints | Set by the airline |
| Group management | Passengers travel within the same operation | The group may need to be split across several flights |
| Airports | Assessed according to the project and aircraft | Limited to the airline’s network |
| Capacity | Aircraft selected according to group size | Seats subject to commercial availability |
| Coordination | The operation is managed as a group movement | Individual bookings or seat blocks |
| Cost | Depends on route, aircraft and operation | Depends on fare and availability |
Travel agencies and tour operators also need to consider the indirect costs of fragmentation: different transfers, waiting times, groups arriving at different times, greater organisational complexity and the impact on the overall participant experience.
The right comparison therefore concerns the entire trip, not just the cost of the flight.
What does an air charter broker do for sports travel?
A charter flight involves several stakeholders: travel agencies, tour operators, the carrier, airports, handling providers, passengers and other suppliers involved in the operation.
The air charter broker role is to turn the organiser’s requirements into a workable flight project, assessing availability, aircraft, airports, timings and services.
For a marathon, this means understanding how many runners need to travel, the most convenient departure airport, the race schedule, seat allocation between agencies and which requirements may affect the operation.
The Valencia project provides a real example of how these variables can lead to several dedicated departures for the same sporting event.
To learn more about every stage of the process, explore our guide on how to plan charter flights for sports travel.
In Valencia’s case, however, there is there is something more. Running is part of life at Flyness: Roberto Narzisi and Luigi Annichini, two key figures at the company, are both runners and know first-hand the mixture of tension and excitement that comes before a marathon.
That means looking at a running trip through the eyes of someone preparing to race: knowing how important it is to arrive on time, avoid unnecessary complications, have everything needed for the event and focus on the race, while travel arrangements are handled by people who understand those needs.
From marathons to other sporting events
A marathon is only one of the situations in which a large number of people need to reach the same destination on specific dates.
The same approach can be applied to international competitions, team travel, fan clubs, sports communities and organised groups.
Passengers and requirements may change, but the starting point remains the same: building air transport around the event programme rather than adapting the entire group to a standard travel solution.
Flyness supports travel agencies, tour operators, clubs and sports organisations in planning dedicated sports charter flights, from the initial assessment through to the management of the flight operation.
Are you planning air travel for a sports event or group? Discover Flyness aircraft charter and sports charter solutions, or contact the team to discuss a tailored project.
