1. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport — Saba, Caribbean Netherlands
The world’s shortest paved commercial runway—just 400 m—ends in Caribbean surf on three sides.
Only STOL turboprops like Winair’s Twin Otter are allowed.
Airport details
2. Barra Airport — Barra, Scotland
The only airport where scheduled flights land on a tidal beach.
Arrivals operate at low tide; the timetable shows times “subject to sea-state.”
Official airport page
3. Princess Juliana International Airport — Sint Maarten
Jets skim 20 m above sunbathers on Maho Beach; spotters queue for the daily A330 from Paris.
Official airport site
4. Gustaf III Airport — Saint Barthélemy
Pilots dive over a roundabout before touching down on a 650 m strip ending at St Jean Bay.
Only certified short-field captains may operate here.
Airport details
5. Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport — Madeira, Portugal
Atlantic winds and an elevated runway on 180 concrete pillars make for dramatic go-around potential.
TAP’s A321neo daily approach offers cliff and ocean panoramas.
Official airport site
6. Motu Mute Airport — Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Built on a coral islet; passengers transfer by boat to over-water bungalows.
Window seats on Air Tahiti’s ATR reveal Mount Otemanu framed by electric-blue lagoon.
Airport details
7. Velana International Airport — Malé, Maldives
Runway-island sits meters from Malé’s high-rise skyline; clear-water approach shows reef shadows below.
After landing, step onto a speedboat for resort check-in within 15 minutes.
Official airport site
Know another island runway with heart-rate-spiking views? Drop your suggestion in the comments and we’ll test the landing on our next field trip.