Looking for best airport approaches? We asked passengers, pilots and passionate flyers to tell us their favorite airport approach.
We received an overwhelming response, with voters choosing a total of 79 different airports across the world offering a diverse range of stunning views on approach – glittering cityscapes, jaw-dropping mountain views or awe-inspiring approaches over the sea.
The votes have been counted and your 2011 top 10 lists airport approaches are:
Barra Airport (Scotland, UK)
Topping the list with the biggest number of votes was tiny Barra airport, on Barra Island in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides.
The airport has a unique beach runway – the only one in the world for scheduled aircraft – with flight times varying according to the tide as the runway is literally washed away once a day.
The beach is also open to foot visitors who must observe the windsock to see if the airport is in operation.
One voter commented “Beautiful scenery and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to land on a beach”.
London City Airport (London, UK)
As the closest airport to London’s city centre, the approach to London City airport provides a highly scenic approach over iconic landmarks including Big Ben, the London Eye and the 2012 Olympic park.
The approach is unique as the glide path is set at a steep 5.8 degrees as opposed to the usual 3, with one voter calling it “a thrilling descent with panoramic London views”.
Jackson Hole Airport (Wyoming, USA)
Set against a backdrop of the Teton Mountains and entirely surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole airport was declared a USA national monument in the 1940s.
One voter commented: “The beauty of the Grand Tetons is amazing as you are approaching Jackson Hole, especially at the beginning of sunset! Awesome is the only word”.
Another fan said: “I always feel glamorous and reminded of when flying was actually fun when I fly into Jackson Hole”.
Aruba Airport (Dutch Caribbean)
Queen Beatrix International Airport is the gateway to the Caribbean island of Aruba.
Located on the island’s west coast, the runway approach gives stunning incoming views of the island as you fly over the ocean.
It was originally a US airbase, and was developed into an international airport in the 1950s. One voter commented: “You can see the island ocean to ocean, outlined in white.
Just nature at its best”.
Malé Airport (Maldives)
Surrounded by the Indian Ocean and offering highly scenic views of the archipelago of the Maldives, Malé airport (officially called Ibrahim Nasir International Airport) is situated on Hulhulé island, one of the twenty-six Maldivian atolls closest to the capital island Malé.
It was originally built by a workforce of 2250 local volunteers in the 1960s. One fan commented that “you often see turtles and dolphins on approach”.
St Barts Airport (French Caribbean)
With a runway length of just 650 metres, Gustaf III Airport on the Caribbean island of St Barthelemy does not cater to international flights – only scheduled and private charter propeller services.
With very tight angles, hills, unusual wind conditions and the short landing strip to negotiate, it is a very challenging descent, with only the most qualified and highly-trained pilots able to land there.
One voter likened it to “landing on an aircraft carrier”.
Queenstown Airport (New Zealand)
Situated on the South Island of New Zealand, A landing at Queenstown offers birdseye views of New Zealand’s famously beautiful scenery including Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps and Remarkables mountain ranges.
The airport is particularly busy in the winter when these turn into some of the world’s finest skiing slopes.
One fan commented: “The stunning low level approach brushes past the great Southern Alps, you are able to see people skiing as you fly in. Simply beautiful”.
Gibraltar Airport (British overseas territory)
Gibraltar airport, owned by the Ministry of Defense as RAF Gibraltar, is the worlds closest to the city that it serves, being just 500 meters from Gibraltar’s city centre.
The runway is actually intersected by a main road which closes every time a plane lands or departs.
The rock of Gibraltar looms large on the stunning approach, causing unusual wind patterns and turbulence.
One voter commented “Challenging winds and a great view – not to mention a slight feeling of superiority when you cross the closed road!”
Narvik Airport (Norway)
Narvik Airport is located within the Arctic Circle in northern Norway, and is one of the world’s most northerly airports.
It was built in 1972 and originally used as a military airport.
The approach offers stunning views of the wintery landscape with one voter describing its location as “surrounded by arctic landscape, mountains, lakes and fjords”.
St Maarten (French/Dutch Caribbean)
The Princess Juliana airport on the Caribbean island of St Maarten (Saint Martin) is exceptionally close to the beach, with low-flying aircraft skimming the heads of holidaymakers below.
The sunset bar area at the end of the runway is the ultimate plane spotter’s viewing spot: In a local ritual, thrill seekers ‘ride the fence’, hanging on during the jet blast from a 747 take off. One fan called the landing “terrifying yet brilliant”.
As a lover of travel this is a GREAT article – who knew there were so many unique airports?
There is NOTHING like the view in an airplane. And there is nothing like a beautiful Airport to go with it.
I live in Pittsburgh and perhaps I’m biased but I do believe we have one of the best airports in the US if not the world.
Sadly I have never been to any of these places. It sure makes for one heck of a wish list, tho!!! Thanks.