The top 10 shortest runways in the world has one from an Indian hill station
Around the world, some airports test the absolute limits of pilot skill and aircraft performance with terrifyingly short runways.
These airstrips demand razor-sharp precision, perfect timing, and nerves of steel. From the snowy peaks of the Himalayas to beachside strips that disappear at high tide, here's a look at the world's shortest and most thrilling runways, including one high up in India's hills.
📌 Lukla Airport, Nepal
Runway length: 527 meters (1,729 feet)
Altitude: 9,334 ft
Often dubbed the most dangerous airport in the world, Lukla is the gateway to Everest. With one end of the runway dropping off a cliff and the other ending in a mountain wall, there's zero room for error, as per Aviation A2Z.
📌 Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, Saba (Caribbean Netherlands)
Runway length: 400 meters (1,312 feet)
Located on the tiny island of Saba, this is the shortest commercial runway in the world, according to Aviation A2Z. The strip is surrounded by cliffs and sea, leaving no margin for overshoot.
📌 Courchevel Altiport, France
Runway length: 537 meters (1,762 feet)
Nestled in the French Alps, this airstrip is known for its steep slope and lack of instrument approach procedures. Only specially certified pilots are allowed to operate here.
📌 Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Phaplu, Nepal
Runway length: 600 meters (1,969 feet)
Often overshadowed by Lukla, this is another perilous runway in Nepal with steep terrain and high-altitude winds.
📌 Shimla Airport, India
Runway length: 1,230 meters (4,035 feet)
India's contribution to the list, Shimla Airport in Himachal Pradesh, is perched on a hilltop with frequent weather disruptions. Though longer than others here, the elevation (5,072 ft) and surrounding terrain make it extremely tricky.
📌 Barra Airport, Scotland
Runway length: Variable (on a beach!)
Barra is one of the few airports where scheduled flights land on a tidal beach. Pilots must plan landings around the tide chart and there's literally no runway at high tide.
📌 Madeira Airport, Portugal
Runway length: Originally 1,600 meters (5,250 feet)
Built on stilts and cliffs, the original runway was notoriously short before being extended. It still remains a challenging landing zone due to ocean winds and turbulence.
📌 Heligoland Airport, Germany (1,575 feet)
Düne Island, Heligoland Archipelago
The main runway (15/33) at Heligoland measures just 1,575 feet (480 meters). Despite its size, it's approved for commercial use, barely, according to AeroXplorer. The airport is located on Düne Island in the North Sea, where crosswinds and weight restrictions make every landing a precision act.
Only one carrier, OFD Ostfriesischer-Flug-Dienst, operates here with Britten-Norman Islanders.
📌 Doti Airport, Nepal (1,608 feet)
In Dipayal Silgadhi
Doti Airport's 1,608-foot (490-meter) runway lies in Nepal's rugged hills at an elevation of 1,893 feet. Originally opened in 1973, it was only paved in 2020. Nepal Airlines began scheduled flights to Dhangadhi in 2022, using Twin Otters that are specifically designed for such challenging strips, according to AeroXplorer.
📌 St. Mary's Airport, Isles of Scilly (1,722 feet)
Located in England
Serving as the only air link between the Isles of Scilly and mainland UK, St Mary's Airport has a mixed asphalt/grass runway measuring 1,722 feet (525 meters), according to the AeroXplorer. Operated primarily by Isles of Scilly Skybus, only small aircraft like Twin Otters and Britten-Norman Islanders can use the airfield.
Interestingly, a pedestrian footpath crosses near the end of the runway, closed briefly during landings and takeoffs using warning lights and bells.
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