5 Beautiful Airports That Pilots Love To Fly Into

Flying can be an exciting experience for travelers, but it’s not just the destination that makes the journey memorable. In this article, we’ll explore the five most beautiful airports to fly into based on the incredible scenery they offer. Of course, beauty is subjective, but we’ll aim to validate our list with some jaw-dropping videos of aircraft landing at these locations.

5 Bora Bora Airport

Country: French Polynesia

The Bora Bora Airport is located on the French Polynesian island of Bora Bora. This airport offers stunning views of crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, and the iconic Mount Otemanu. As you approach, you see the iconic overwater bungalows that have made Bora Bora famous, creating a picture-perfect landing experience.

Notable for its small size, it features a single runway, limiting aircraft types that can land there, with primarily regional flights and private jets. The overwater terminal enhances its charm, requiring travelers to embark on a brief boat journey to access the main island. Considering the airport’s limited dimensions and closeness to the lagoon, some travelers prefer seaplanes to make a remarkable arrival directly onto the lagoon’s surface.

The airport’s location in the South Pacific means it operates in a tropical climate. The weather is generally warm and humid, with occasional rainfall affecting flight schedules.

Read more: Weather conditions and their airport impacts explained

4 Kranebitten Airport

Country: Austria

Innsbruck Airport, also known as Kranebitten Airport, is located in western Austria, near Innsbruck. The airport’s location amidst the Austrian Alps lets passengers view snowy mountains and villages as the plane descends.

It’s a challenging approach, with a steep descent through the narrow valley that makes it feel like you’re riding through the mountains. As a smaller airport, its atmosphere offers a more pleasant travel experience than larger, busier terminals. Landing at Innsbruck Airport combines natural beauty and easy access to the city and the Alps.

Flying into Innsbruck is an experience, with the airport nestled deep inside the valley and mountains rising on either side. Approaching this unique valley location with the Inn River, which crosses the country from west to east in the shadow of towering mountains on all sides, is truly unique in Europe. The landings here are always different, depending on the weather, the season, and the flying time.

3 Queenstown Airport

Country: New Zealand

Nestled on the South Island of New Zealand, Queenstown Airport is surrounded by the Southern Alps and Lake Wakatipu. The rugged mountain peaks and pristine lake waters make this airport a favorite among travelers seeking natural beauty.

As the aircraft descends, passengers see the Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu, and the surrounding mountain ranges. Pilots must navigate the dramatic terrain and rapidly changing weather conditions, great for skiers but challenging for large passenger aircraft, making it an exciting experience for passengers and flight crew.

Queenstown Airport has a relatively short runway, making it one of the most demanding for commercial pilots. Depending on the route, aircraft fly above mountain ridges for 10 minutes, then down the valley from the north with mountains on both sides. Because of these conditions, pilots landing in Queenstown must undergo specialized simulator training. Still, they must also execute a successful approach and landing with training captains onboard.

2 London City Airport

Country: United Kingdom

Out of London’s airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend, and London City), London City Airport offers the best experience. The airport’s runway is relatively short, restricting the types of aircraft operating. Also, due to its unique location and the need to minimize noise for the city’s residents, LCY has restrictions on nighttime flight operations.

This airport is the only one in London actually within the city itself. That is a popular choice for business travelers heading to the Canary Wharf financial district. The facility is located right along the River Thames, so you can see the Shard and the Millennium Dome as the aircraft descends for landing.

London City is not a crowded airport. It is compact and easy to navigate, with a centrally located security checkpoint. There are no jet bridges or Priority Pass lounges, perfect for a simple and stress-free travel experience.

1 Santos-Dumont Airport

Country: Brazil

Santos-Dumont Airport is the second major airport serving Rio de Janeiro, after Galeão International Airport, 20 km away. It is named after the Brazilian aviation pioneer Alberto Santos Dumont.

This airport is quite conveniently located very close to the city center, but the location is problematic because the aircraft have Sugarloaf Mountain on the direct landing path. Due to the airport location, the approach to the airport requires pilots to navigate through hilly terrain and can be pretty challenging due to potentially strong crosswinds from the ocean.

As you approach this airport, you’ll view Rio de Janeiro’s iconic landmarks, including Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) and the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain. Also, the airport is near several of Rio de Janeiro’s famous beaches, including Copacabana and Ipanema.

Read More: The Top 6 Hardest Airports To Land At

While the above airports offer extraordinary beauty, several other airports are deserving of honorable mention for their scenic allure:

• Palermo Airport (Italy), with a fantastic contrast between the sea and mountainous terrain.
• St. Marteen Airport (Netherlands), famous for its proximity to Maho Beach, where planes pass overhead just meters above sunbathers.
• Santiago de Chile (Chile) Airport, set against the stunning Andes Mountains.
• Gibraltar Airport (United Kingdom/Spain), with its runway intersecting a significant road.
• Miami International Airport (USA), with its beautiful palm-lined runways and night city lights.

Are you considering flying into one of these airports for your next trip? Let us know in the comments below.