The world’s most beautiful airport landings

Experiencing a bird’s-eye view from an airplane is truly incredible, and whether you’re sitting on the right or left side of the plane, there are some destinations that can guarantee you a breath-taking view as you start your long-awaited holiday. From turquoise waters to towering mountains, many airport runways offer a thrilling landing experience. All of which led us to wondering, which of the world’s airport landings are the most eye-catching of all?

To find out we conducted a global eye-tracking study. We analysed which runways caught participants’ attention the quickest, as well as how long each one held their attention, before cross-referencing the two metrics to reveal which airport landings are the most beautiful of all.

Are you ready to embark on an unforgettable journey? Grab your bags, ensure you’re covered with comprehensive Travel Insurance, and explore with us as we unveil the most impressive airport runways in the world.

Which airport landings are the most beautiful?

Topping the list of the world’s most breathtaking airport landings is Lord Howe Island Airport in Australia, while Queenstown Airport, also found down under, follows closely behind. In third place, two stunning airports tie: Madeira Airport in Portugal (named after Cristiano Ronaldo himself) and Pitkin County Airport in Colorado, USA (where you can be on a ski mountain within minutes of arrival).

The top 10 includes a diverse array of visually captivating runways. Among them is the Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont Airport, famous for views of the most iconic attractions in Brazil, including Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer. Meanwhile, London City Airport also lands in the top 5 thanks to its dramatic skyline (with passengers offered views of the River Thames, Canary Wharf and the Shard on approach).

The USA also features again in the global top 10. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Hawaii lands in tenth place, offering shimmering views of the Pacific Ocean and tying with Lukla Airport in Nepal, the gateway to Everest Base Camp.

The world’s top 20 most beautiful airport runways

1. Lord Howe Island Airport – Australia

One of the shortest airport runways in Australia, Lord Howe Island Airport also ranks as the world’s most beautiful plane landing of all. Participants spent more time admiring this view than any other (2.64 seconds), earning it a total eye-catching score of 85/100. The island has strict visitor limits with only 400 people allowed to visit at one time, and since arriving by plane is the only way to access it, landing at this UNESCO World Heritage Site is extra special.

Source: David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada – Lord Howe Airstrip

2. Queenstown Airport – New Zealand 

Scoring a lofty eye-catching score of 79 out of 100, Queenstown Airport in New Zealand offers one of the world’s most dramatic descents. Aircrafts landing here must make a steep descent between the surrounding mountains, meaning a tricky approach that pilots must undergo specific training for. Passengers are rewarded with the dramatic mountainous scenery coupled with the glacial waters of Lake Wakatipu, in one of the world’s most visually captivating landings.

3. Madeira Airport – Portugal

Madeira Airport is also notorious for its challenging approach, which is framed with the island’s breathtaking cliffs, Levada trails and mesmerising green mountains. With all this beautiful scenery nestled among the deep blue Atlantic Ocean, it’s no wonder pictures of this runway had one of the longest average fixation times of any airport in the study (2.53 seconds), offering travellers who fly here a thrilling, yet picturesque, start to their holiday.

3. Pitkin County Airport – USA 

Completing the top three most beautiful airport landings in the world is Pitkin County Airport, which has a total eye-catching score of 77 out of 100. Flying into this airport offers passengers jaw-dropping views of the snow-capped Rockies. With only one approach and one departure route possible due to the surrounding mountains blocking the way – those travelling to Aspen are almost guaranteed a gorgeous airport arrival.

5. Rio de Janeiro–Santos Dumont Airport – Brazil 

This airport captured attention faster than any other runway in the study (just 0.69 seconds to first fixation!) – thanks to its jaw-dropping views of some of the most iconic tourist attractions in the world including Rio’s Christ the Redeemer, as well as the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. If all that’s not enough, the airport is surrounded by Guanabara Bay’s tranquil sparkling blue waters too, the ideal way to immediately absorb the country’s vibrant energy.

5. London City Airport – United Kingdom 

London City Airport offers one of the world’s most unique and exciting landings, with a total eye-catching score of 76 out of 100. Whether you’re a traveller or just someone who enjoys a beautiful city skyline, landing here is a memorable experience – with views of The Shard, Canary Wharf, The River Thames, the O2 Arena, Tower Bridge, and the London Eye all visible from the plane window.

7. Innsbruck Airport – Austria

Another airport nestled among mountains can be found in the snowy city of Innsbruck, offering outstanding views of the Austrian Alps, as well as its valleys and picturesque villages. With gorgeous sunsets beaming from the mountains in the summertime and thick white snow creating a magical feel during the winter, this runway is beautiful to visit all year round.

8. Paro Airport – Bhutan 

Offering unmatched Himalayan scenery, Paro Airport has an eye-catching score of 72 out of 100. Once on the runway, the Bhutan community is a small and peaceful place known for its rich Buddhist culture and untouched nature – another bucket list location for many avid travellers.

9. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport – Caribbean Netherlands 

Known for having the shortest runway in the world (only 400 metres long), this landing can be hair-raising, although the stunning views of the turquoise Caribbean Sea will certainly help to ease any nerves. Running parallel to the Caribbean Sea, the rugged cliffs and pretty green hills offer beautiful scenery for travellers looking for jaw-dropping views upon landing.

10. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport – USA

With views of the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Hawaii easily ranks among the most beautiful runways in the world. The landing includes flying over the water, making it feel like you’re landing in the sea – the perfect way to start a trip in a tropical paradise.

10. Lukla Airport – Nepal 

Famously known as the gateway to Everest, as well as having another of the world’s shortest runways, Lukla Airport ties in 10th place. This airport runway landed an eye-catching score of 68 out of 100, due to its unparalleled views of the world’s tallest mountains, including Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse.

If our research has inspired you to take a hop on a flight and visit some of these beautiful runways, make sure you’re prepared and buy your Travel Insurance ahead of time, to save any last-minute holiday stresses.

Methodology:

We analysed 32 airports from around the world, each known for offering stunning views for passengers arriving by plane.

A group of 100 participants from around the world took part in the research. Each participant was presented with a series of images showcasing these airport runways, and their visual engagement was measured using eye-tracking technology. We recorded two key metrics:
• Time to First Fixation (TTFF): The speed at which participants first focused on an image, indicating immediate visual appeal.
• Total Viewing Duration: The average length of time participants spent looking at each image, reflecting sustained interest.

To determine the final ranking, these metrics were combined in a weighted formula: 30% based on TTFF (how quickly an image captures attention) and 70% based on total viewing duration (how long it holds attention).

The results revealed the airport runways that are the most visually captivating, earning them the title of the world’s most beautiful airport runways.

Data correct as of March 2025.