World’s 10 most scenic airport approaches for 2018

By Francesca Street, CNN
Published 5:50 AM EDT, Wed April 11, 2018
<strong>10. Miami International Airport, Miami (USA)</strong>: PrivateFly, a booking platform for private jet charters, has listed the top 10 most scenic runways for 2018. Taking the number 10 spot is Miami, thanks to its clear views and coastal beauty.
10. Miami International Airport, Miami (USA): PrivateFly, a booking platform for private jet charters, has listed the top 10 most scenic runways for 2018. Taking the number 10 spot is Miami, thanks to its clear views and coastal beauty.
Courtesy Miami-Dade Aviation Department
<strong>9. St. Maarten Airport (Saint Martin): </strong>Descending into St. Maarten airport, the plane almost skids across the sand and the crystal-blue water. "Although the island of St. Maarten and Princess Juliana International Airport are still recovering from the aftereffects of Hurricane Irma, it's still my pick for the most stunning landing," says judge Benet Wilson, founder of website Aviation Queen.
9. St. Maarten Airport (Saint Martin): Descending into St. Maarten airport, the plane almost skids across the sand and the crystal-blue water. "Although the island of St. Maarten and Princess Juliana International Airport are still recovering from the aftereffects of Hurricane Irma, it's still my pick for the most stunning landing," says judge Benet Wilson, founder of website Aviation Queen.
Courtesy of PrivateFly
<strong>8. London City Airport (UK): </strong>On a sunny day or as night falls, flying into London City Airport affords unforgettable views of the Thames and London landmarks, including famous skyscraper The Shard.
8. London City Airport (UK): On a sunny day or as night falls, flying into London City Airport affords unforgettable views of the Thames and London landmarks, including famous skyscraper The Shard.
Andrew Holt
<strong>7. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Canada): </strong>Another incredible cityscape descent is on offer in Toronto, with its views spanning the city's urban center to Lake Ontario below.
7. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Canada): Another incredible cityscape descent is on offer in Toronto, with its views spanning the city's urban center to Lake Ontario below.
Courtesy PrivateFly
<strong>6. Orlando Melbourne International Airport (USA):</strong> Orlando is another airport landing blessed with blue skies, blue seas and city panoramas.
6. Orlando Melbourne International Airport (USA): Orlando is another airport landing blessed with blue skies, blue seas and city panoramas.
Courtesy Walt Simpson
<strong>5. Juancho E Irausquin Airport (Saba): </strong>Juancho E Irausquin Airport is the only airport on the Caribbean island of Saba. It's also home to the shortest commercial runway in the world (396 meters). The airport is surrounded by incredible natural beauty.
5. Juancho E Irausquin Airport (Saba): Juancho E Irausquin Airport is the only airport on the Caribbean island of Saba. It's also home to the shortest commercial runway in the world (396 meters). The airport is surrounded by incredible natural beauty.
Cess Timmers/www.tvc-advertising.com
<strong>4. Queenstown Airport (New Zealand): </strong>Voters were keen on the scenery and landscapes surrounding Queenstown Airport, landing it a spot in the top 10.
4. Queenstown Airport (New Zealand): Voters were keen on the scenery and landscapes surrounding Queenstown Airport, landing it a spot in the top 10.
PrivateFly
<strong>3. Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (France): </strong>Arrive in style to the French Riveria courtesy of Nice Cote d'Azur Airport. "The final approach goes along the shoreline which offers spectacular views," says judge and blogger "Pilot Patrick."
3. Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (France): Arrive in style to the French Riveria courtesy of Nice Cote d'Azur Airport. "The final approach goes along the shoreline which offers spectacular views," says judge and blogger "Pilot Patrick."
Courtesy PrivateFly
<strong>2. Barra Airport (UK): </strong>At Barra Airport in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, you land and take off from a spotless sandy beach.
2. Barra Airport (UK): At Barra Airport in the Scottish Outer Hebrides, you land and take off from a spotless sandy beach.
VisitScotland_ScottishViewpoint
<strong>1. Donegal Airport (Ireland):</strong> Taking the top spot is Donegal Airport in Ireland, thanks to its rugged beauty and low descent.
1. Donegal Airport (Ireland): Taking the top spot is Donegal Airport in Ireland, thanks to its rugged beauty and low descent.
Courtesy Wen Clarke Photography
World's most scenic airport approaches
CNN  — 

It’s official: Small is beautiful.

But whether you’re landing a fictional starship or a Boeing 747, Donegal Airport is a spectacular landing strip – and now it’s been crowned the world’s most scenic airport approach by PrivateFly, a booking platform for private jet charters.

The world’s shortest commercial runway, a 400-meter-long strip at Juancho E Irausquin Airport on the Carribbean island of Saba, has been named the world’s most scenic airport approach in a global survey conducted by PrivateFly, a booking platform for private jet charters.

The top ten also includes the sandy beauty of Barra Airport on the Isle of Barra in Scotland’s incredible Outer Hebrides.

'Star Wars' locations that actually exist

“Flying into Saba is extraordinary,” says Adam Twidell, PrivateFly CEO and an experienced pilot. “You approach the mountainous island towering out of the sea, to see an impossibly tiny runway appear perched on a cliff.”

A panel of travel experts and aviation fans took part in the annual poll, which this year received more than 8,000 individual votes for a total of 122 global airports.

Other highlights include the picture-perfect cityscape afforded by descending into London City airport and the sun-bleached, Mediterranean beauty of Nice Cote d’Azur.

Here’s where you should be grabbing a window seat in 2017:

10 most scenic airport landings, according to PrivateFly

1. Saba (Juancho E Yrausquin Airport), Dutch Caribbean

2. Donegal Airport, Ireland

3. Nice Cote d’Azur, France

5. Queenstown Airport, New Zealand

5. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba, Dutch Caribbean

6. London City Airport, UK

7. St Maarten Airport (Princess Juliana International), Caribbean

8. Orlando Melbourne Airport, USA

9. Barra Airport, Scotland, UK

10. Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida, US

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