World's smallest airport: It takes your breath away during takeoff
Where the smallest airport in the world is located and what it looks like (photo: Getty Images)
Where in the world is there a small airport with a runway shorter than a football field? In addition to its very short runway, this airport has other interesting features that make takeoff a real challenge for passengers.
Where is the smallest airport in the world located, and what interesting facts are known about it?
Where is the smallest airport in the world located
Most of us are used to large international airports with dozens of terminals and endless queues.
However, there is a place where the airport looks like a small house with a minimal set of amenities. This is Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, located on the island of Saba, which is part of the Caribbean Netherlands.
This airport is officially recognized as the smallest in the world, and its features are impressive:
Runway length: only 400 meters! In comparison, large airports have runways over 2-3 km long.
Location: the airport is situated on a rocky island surrounded by the sea, making landing a real challenge for pilots, and takeoff a test for passengers.
Service: only small aircraft and private flights. You won’t see any Boeing or Airbus here.
Interesting facts about this airport
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The runway of the airport on Saba Island is known as one of the most dangerous in the world due to its short length and the cliffs on both sides.
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The entire airport staff can easily fit into one room, as there are only a few people working there.
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The airport is very small, though its beauty is often featured in documentary films about aviation.
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The airport on Saba Island opened in 1959, and it was a huge event for all the island's residents.
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The first plane landed on February 9, 1959, but after that, flying to and from the island was prohibited. It was decided to build proper infrastructure and reopen the airport in 1963.
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In 1998, the airport was damaged by Hurricane George, and it was only restored in 2002.
How to find it
The airport is located just a few kilometers from the central part of the island, and most of the passengers are tourists seeking peace and tranquility in this tropical paradise.
Earlier, we discussed why pilots try to avoid flying over Tibet.
We also wrote about the 6 airports in the world that are considered the most beautiful.
The sources used in the preparation of this article include: airport-world.com, nationalgeographic.com, saba-tourism.com.
