The 10 Most Dangerous Airports In The World 2024

Those who are afraid of flying may want to read this article. Here we show you the 10 most dangerous airports in the world, and they are still in operation. Some of them are in very touristic places like the Caribbean.

Some tourists are waiting for their summer vacation on the beach, but there are no flights there. The fear of flying can be an impediment for many when they are planning their vacations. 

Dear reader, if you are one of those passengers who doesn’t enjoy flying then look at the 10 most dangerous airports in the world, it will make you see that things can always be worse. 

Read Also: Top 10 Best Airports in Africa – Most Popular Internationally

What should scare you in this article is not the flight but the landing. So sit back and enjoy your flight as you avoid the most dangerous airports in the world. 

Top 10 Most Dangerous Airports In The World

1. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport in Saba, Caribbean

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is the first on our list of the most dangerous airports in the world, an airport that should not have been built in Saba as there is not enough space for it. Every site that was proposed was too dangerous. Well, until the Mayor of St. Barths made a private landing strip for himself in the area where Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is located today.

His reason was “if it has worked once, it will work more”. We can be thankful that for the moment nothing bad has happened since a part of the track ends in a mountain and both ends go directly to the sea.

If the plane had to brake hard it would not have enough space due to the short runway. I have to admit that even if you are a travel lover I do not recommend this landing!

2. Paro Airport in Bhutan, South Asia

At 2,234 meters above sea level, you’ll find the Bhutan International Airport. This airport is located in a deep valley, takeoffs and landings are only possible if the weather is good. Only very experienced pilots are allowed to land as it is classified as a very difficult landing. After all, the runway is 2km long and until 1990 it was only 1.4km long.

3. Toncontin International Airport in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Although the runway at Toncontin International Airport has been slightly extended in the Honduran capital, it remains one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Located 1000m above sea level in the middle of two large mountains, I imagine that this airport is not the favorite of many pilots. Especially when the landing is steeper than normal.

4. Gustaf III Airport in St. Barths, Caribbean

The airstrip on the island of St. Barths in the Caribbean is very beautiful, but another thing to talk about is being safe. It is located between mountains and the sea, separated by 640 meters in length. Everything is mainly to go to one of the most beautiful and luxurious islands in the world, normally people who visit this island have enough money to pay for a private jet with a very experienced pilot. 

5. Gibraltar Airport, Gibraltar

Gibraltar may be a bit cramped, the airport was built on Avenida Winston Churchill, the only street that leads to Spain. There is no other crossing like this in the world, they must cut the road for a plane to land or take off. For my taste, I think that Gibraltar needs an airport but due to lack of space, this is the solution.

6. Courchevel Airport, France

This place was used twice to film the James Bond movies, surely there is something special about it, isn’t it? And yes, we are talking about the airport in the middle of the Courchevel ski area. It is special and extraordinary but also dangerous. Those who fly into this airport in the heart of the Rhônes-Alpes region in France will be nervous to see the short runway at 2000 meters above sea level.

7. Tenzing–Hillary Airport in Lukla, Nepal

If you are confident and believe that you can conquer Everest, this airport may not scare you. For people who want to visit this region, Tenzing-Hillary airport is your only option. The runway is only 527 meters long and at the end there is a drop of 600 meters. 

8. Funchal Airport in Madeira, Portugal

Pilots must be well trained to be able to land at the airport on the beautiful island of Madeira, due to how close it is to the coast the pilot will have to compensate for the ups and downs of the plane due to the wind. This shouldn’t be a problem for experienced pilots but many passengers are scared when the plane lands as it can move a lot due to the wind.

9. Princess Juliana International Airport in Saint Maarten, Caribbean

Those who want to bathe and tan here their dreams will come true. I am of course talking about the beaches that are located near the Princess Julian International Airport in Saint Maarten. Most of the tourists who are on the beach are not afraid of the huge jets that fly overhead just 10 meters from their heads. 

Read Also: The 7 Most Beautiful Airports In The World

Sometimes they have to go to the fences to withstand the extreme winds created by aircraft engines. It’s pretty dangerous, right?

10. Congonhas Airport in São Paulo, Brazil

Congonhas Airport is located in the center of the residential area and many buildings are very close to it. When the airport opened in 1936, São Paulo was not the big city it is today. Currently, only domestic flights land here, as São Paulo has another safer airport that was built in 1985.