This is a list of the strangest airports in the world that you won’t easily encounter during your travels.
Airport in a Garden: Hollywood star John Travolta is so passionate about flying that he built two runways at his home in Florida to accommodate his collection of seven private planes, including a Boeing 707, a Boeing 727, and three Gulfstreams. He has his own flight control center and a residence that provides breakfast for pilots flying late or early in the morning.
Ice Runway: The private Doris Lake Aerodrome at Doris Lake, Nunavut, Canada, is entirely made of ice. This airport is only open from January to April and primarily serves gold mining operations at the nearby Hope Bay.
Desert Airport: Every August, the airport in Black Rock City, USA, is constructed in the desert with a 3.2 km runway to serve the Burning Man festival. There is no control tower; pilots communicate via traffic advisory frequency when landing. All traces of the airport disappear into the sand just a few days after it opens.
Abandoned Airport: The French attempted to build a concrete airport at the Dumont D’Urville research station in Antarctica over two decades ago. However, the area was severely damaged by a storm just months before completion, causing part of the airport to collapse into the sea.
Mountain Top Airport: In early 2014, a new airport opened on a mountain peak in Hechi, Guangxi, China, at an elevation of 677 meters above sea level. The airport has only one terminal and a 2.2 km runway, serving just three flights per hour, while a typical airport can handle up to 60 flights per hour.
Open One Month a Year Airport: The Barneo Ice Camp in Russia is located 40.2 km from the North Pole and only exists for one month each year in April. The camp serves scientific research and expedition tourism. Aircraft have to land on a temporary runway near the camp. The runway can support the weight of an Antonov An-74 aircraft, which can carry 52 passengers.
Cliffside Runway: Landing at Matekane airport in Lesotho is a heart-stopping experience due to a 600-meter cliff at the end of the runway. Additionally, Matekane is located 2,286 meters above sea level, making both takeoff and landing suitable only for highly experienced pilots.
Secret Airport: Homey Airport is the official name for the secret air force facilities of Air Force One in the United States, also known as Area 51. This restricted area is part of a military testing ground in Nevada. Due to its remote location and sparse population, it is where secret aircraft and drones are developed and tested.
Water Runway: The seaplane airport in Vancouver, Canada, is home to the largest seaplane in the world. After landing, tourists are already in Vancouver, surrounded by skyscrapers since the airport is located in the city center.
Northernmost Airport: Teniente R. Marsh Airport on King George Island is famous for being the northernmost airport in Antarctica. It serves the residents of Villa Las Estrellas and the nearby Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Base. Each season, the airport handles 150 intercontinental flights.
Ice Floe Airport: McMurdo Station was first established on Hut Point Peninsula, Ross Island in Antarctica 60 years ago. There are several airports here, with Willy Field being the only one operating year-round, even when the ice floe melts. Aircraft wishing to land here must be equipped with skis to land on the ice and snow.
Highest Airport in the World: At an elevation of 5,064 meters above sea level, Daulat Beg Oldi Airport in Ladakh, India, poses a challenge for pilots due to frequent gusts of wind.
Prisoner Runway: The federal transfer center in Oklahoma City, USA, has direct flights to prison gates for the pickup and transfer of prisoners. The prison gate is connected to Will Rogers Airport, which also serves commercial flights.
Most Challenging Runway: The runway opened in Tsinga village, Western New Guinea in 2011. The runway is very narrow and located on a mountainside at an elevation of 1,981 meters, with trees growing on either side.
Commercial Airport in a Park – Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming, USA: This is considered the only commercial airport located within a national park. Jackson Hole Airport is situated at the foot of the Teton Mountains, offering breathtaking scenery. You’ll definitely want a window seat to enjoy the mountain views. Given its unique location, seeing bison or moose at the airport entrance is not unusual.
Airport with Shortest Runway – Saba Juancho E Yrausquin Airport, located on Saba Island in the Netherlands, has one of the shortest runways in the world, measuring only 400 meters. Hills rise on either side, with cliffs dropping into the sea at both ends. Landing here is often compared to landing on an aircraft carrier surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and rugged cliffs.
Most Dangerous Airport in the World – This airport is located at an elevation of nearly 3,000 meters and often serves those aiming to summit Mount Everest. Tourists typically fly into Kathmandu before preparing to conquer the roof of the world. A short runway at an altitude of nearly 600 meters and unpredictable mountain weather add to the thrill for passengers on the plane.
Kansai Airport is the first offshore airport in the world built on an artificial island. The island measures 4 km in length and 2.6 km in width, featuring two runways each longer than 3,500 meters. This airport was constructed to withstand the frequent storms and earthquakes that occur along Japan’s coast. Construction of Kansai Airport began in 1987 and was inaugurated in 1994. Once officially operational, Kansai International Airport was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the significant architectural feats of the millennium.
