Bucket list landings: travellers name their top 10 scenic airports

PrivateFly’s 2018 poll sees Donegal ranked the world’s most stunning runway

The Irish coastline seen on approach was location for the recent Star Wars movies

Global travel fans have voted Ireland’s Donegal Airport the world’s most beautiful landing spot.


April, 17th, 2018

The private jet booking platform PrivateFly, asked the international travel community to name their top landing in its annual survey, with the most votes overall going to the Irish runway, on the country’s northwest Atlantic coast.

Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly and an experienced pilot, comments: “The top 10 is an annual bucket list for travel fans, a fascinating mix of global descents to fly in your lifetime. From tiny runways like last year’s winner Saba (the world’s shortest commercial runway) and Barra in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides; to the major cityscapes offered up by London City or Miami International.

“Donegal is extraordinarily beautiful and deservedly sits in the top spot this year. Its rugged coastal landscapes were a location for the recent Star Wars movies, and it’s not hard to see why. Whether you’re in the Millennium Falcon; on a commercial airliner; or on a private jet, coming into land here feels like an otherworldly experience.”

One voter commented in support of Donegal: “You fly in low…and sweep out over an emerald sea with the perma-white froth of the Wild Atlantic Way, lashing the many tiny rocky islands in a turquoise sea.” Another praised the “spectacular views of the Atlantic coastline, the beautiful Mount Errigal and a beach which is the most stunning in the world.”

PrivateFly teamed up with a panel of travel experts to form the shortlist for the public vote, including aviation writers Rohit Jaggi and Miquel Ros; and travel influencers Henry Conway and Bonnie Rakhit.

Anne Bonner, Managing Director of Donegal Airport comments as follows: “Having been voted in the top ten in the last two years we are delighted to have been voted No. 1 airport landing in 2018. It is indeed a great endorsement from the travelling public and aviation/travel experts putting Donegal firmly on the map of the world’s places to visit. Donegal as a location was also chosen by National Geographic in 2017 ‘as the coolest place on the planet’ and what better way to explore Donegal than to fly into the World’s most scenic airport”

The 2018 top ten is as follows:

  1. Donegal (Ireland)
  2. Barra (Scotland)
  3. Nice (France)
  4. Queenstown (New Zealand)
  5. Saba (Dutch Caribbean)
  6. Orlando Melbourne (USA)
  7. Toronto Billy Bishop (Canada)
  8. London City (England, UK)
  9. St Maarten (French/Dutch Caribbean)
  10. Miami (USA)

Notes To Editors

To see full details of the results, see https://www.privatefly.com/airport-poll/privatefly-airport-poll-results-2018.html

Images and video are available here via Dropbox or on request.

*The PrivateFly Scenic Airports 2018 poll was conducted in February 2018 and received over 8,500 votes. A total of 112 different airports received nominations.

About PrivateFly:

PrivateFly is a global booking platform for private jet charter, making it faster, easier and more cost-effective to compare and book private jets. With over 7000 aircraft integrated worldwide, PrivateFly combines innovative technology with its team of aviation experts, available 24/7.

PrivateFly holds both Argus Certified Broker and Wyvern Broker status, industry best practice accreditations. The company’s fast growth has been recognised by a number of award programs including the FT1000, The Sunday Times Tech Track 100 and SME Export Track 100.

For further information, images or an interview please contact: 

Viv Diprose, PrivateFly

T: +44 (0)7931 624864

E: viv@privatefly.com 

Katrina Suppiah, Publicité Ltd

T: +44 (0)20 8543 6582

E: k.suppiah@publicite.co.uk