Your travelling experience begins the moment you step foot on the plane, and for many people, this is where the anxiety kicks in. It is natural to be uneasy when you are in an aircraft, especially if it is your first time. Air travel has become one of the most popular modes of transportation. It is also often considered one of the safest modes.
While you are more likely to feel safe travelling with a seasoned pilot, the location of the airport can add some risk and increase your uneasiness. Airports have been built in many unsettling locations, including cliffs and oceans. Executive Lounges curated a list of the scariest airports in the world, and today, we will explore eleven of these locations.
1. Courchevel Airport, France
First on the list of the scariest airports is Courchevel Airport in the French Alps. This European airport features a short runway that is around 1,722 feet long. Due to its length, there is little room for errors during takeoff and landing. Additionally, the snow that frequently affects the region is another reason why this airport is daunting.
2. Princess Juliana Airport, Caribbean
Princess Juliana Airport, located in Saint Maarten, is renowned for its terrifyingly short runway. This, paired with its proximity to Maho Beach, results in planes descending just 60 feet above the visitors at the beach. While this may give sunbathers a dramatic experience, it is also risky for the plane and people.
3. Matekane Air Strip, Lesotho
Next on the list of the scariest airports is Matekane Air Strip in Lesotho, Africa. This airport is terrifying because it involves planes dropping off a cliff to become airborne. The airport has a runway that is 1,300 feet long, which does not present enough time for planes to take off. Therefore they often have to drop off a 2,000-foot cliff before they can start flying. Due to this perilous setup, the runway at Matekane is dubbed the scariest in the world.
4. Tioman Island Airport, Malaysia
If you are a first-time flyer, your anxiety will be extremely high if you end up at the Tioman Island Airport. This airport is located in Malaysia, a volcanic island, in the South China Sea. At this airport, pilots must aim their aircraft at mountains and then perform a sharp 90-degree turn to align the aircraft with the runway.
5. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Caribbean
In Saba, Juancho Airport is known for having the shortest commercial runway in the world, measuring 1,300 feet. This Caribbean airport is surrounded by cliffs and the ocean. The limited space eliminates room for errors and may leave you feeling uneasy.
6. Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar
Gibraltar Airport earned a spot on the list of the scariest airports because the runway crosses a main road. Therefore, each time a plane lands or departs, the traffic must be halted so the plane can safely pass through the area. The runway also continues into the sea.
7. Ice Runway, Antarctica
As the name suggests, the Ice Runway in Antarctica is made from solid ice. This runway is used by the U.S. Antarctic Program, supporting large aircraft that weigh up to 450,000 pounds. The icy runway is six feet thick. There are occasions when planes must divert to different landing locations because the runway is not strong enough to support them.
8. Madeira Airport, Portugal
In Portugal, pilots must be very careful when landing on the runway of the Madeira Airport. This airport was initially 5,250 feet long but was extended. Despite the improvements it has made, this airport is still risky because of how close it is to steep mountains and the ocean. The runway is challenging for even season pilots and requires the pilot to carry out a series of complex manoeuvres.
