Most beautiful plane landing in the world gives breathtaking views of a turquoise sea
The world’s most beautiful airport landings have been revealed and you have probably never heard of the one that scored the top spot — and it is in the middle of the ocean
The world’s most beautiful airport landings have been revealed and you have probably never heard of the one that scored the top spot.
According to eye-tracking research, Australia's Lord Howe Island Airport has the most beautiful landing in the world.
New research conducted by the experts at travel insurance provider AllClear, used eye-tracking technology to discover which airport has the best view for passengers as they land. And the remote Australian Island Airport was crowned world’s most scenic. The small island airport, which only has domestic flights from within Australia, has a runway that is nestled between lush green mountains and the turquoise waters of the Tasman Sea.
In addition to only being accessed by domestic flights, the island only welcomes 400 visitors at any one time. It takes two hours to get to the island from Australia's east coast. The island is also a World Heritage-listed site, with its natural surroundings offering the ideal environment for scenic day hikes and snorkelling a the world's southernmost coral reef. Visitor's can also hand-feed fish at Ned's Beach, and wander along white-sand beaches.
For those who like amazing viewpoints, head for a hike up Mount Gower, the island's highest mountain, standing 875 metres tall. The Mount Gower hike is a challenging eight hour return trek, complete with rope-assisted climbs and drops. Hikers will traverse around 14km across the mountain, encountering some of the island's rarest plants and wildlife along the way. Once at the top of Gower's peak, hikers can enjoy breathtaking views of the island surrounded by enticing blue waters.
Letitia Smith, head of communications at AllClear comments: "Many people think flying to their holiday is simply about getting from A to B, but some landings are experiences in themselves – beautiful moments that stay with you long after touchdown.
"Of course, even the most beautiful journeys can come with unexpected delays or medical emergencies, so it’s always wise to make sure your travel insurance is in place before you board the airplane, even better if you purchase it as soon as you book your trip."
The Australian Island was followed by another destination in Oceania, but this time in New Zealand, at Queenstown Airport. With flights heading to this airport, passengers descend between towering snow-capped mountains and over Lake Wakatipu, making it the perfect introduction to the Kiwi scenery.
In third, was the famously challenging descent into Funchal Airport in Madeira. The landing is made difficult due to often high winds, a tricky right-hand turn and the high mountains and ocean surrounding the infamously short runway. It’s this scenery though that makes it such a stunning arrival.
Three other European airports make the top 15 list, including London City Airport in the UK, Innsbruck Airport in Austria and Nice’s airport in the South of France. The landing at London City Airport is particularly notable as it provides a cityscape descent, where you can spot landmarks like The Shard, Tower Bridge and the London Eye.