The Top 10 Most Beautiful Airport Landings in the World

By Saskia Jain

There’s something almost magical about pressing your nose against an aeroplane window as your destination comes into view. That moment when the seatbelt sign chimes, and the aircraft begins its graceful descent offers front-row seats to some of Earth’s most spectacular vistas. It’s like Nature’s own IMAX theatre except you can’t pause for bathroom breaks and the snacks cost a small fortune.

Thanks to meticulous research by travel insurance specialists AllClear, we now have scientific proof of which landings deserve your face prints on the plexiglass. Their global eye-tracking study measured which airport approaches captured attention quickest and held it longest (in seconds). The results? A bucket list of landings that might have you booking flights just for the descent!

The Science Behind the Scenery

AllClear’s research wasn’t just about pretty pictures. The team conducted a sophisticated eye-tracking study to determine which airport landings truly captivate passengers. Each airport received an “eye-catching score” based on two metrics-

• How quickly the scenery grabbed viewers’ attention
• How long did it hold their gaze

This data-driven approach transformed subjective beauty into measurable metrics, giving us the definitive ranking of the world’s most visually stunning approaches.

1. Lord Howe Island Airport, Australia (Score: 85)

Topping the list is Australia’s remote Lord Howe Island Airport (LDH). This UNESCO World Heritage site offers a dramatic introduction as planes descend toward a narrow runway nestled between azure waters and lush mountains. The approach showcases the island’s remarkable biodiversity, with views of coral reefs, volcanic peaks, and dense forests.

Passengers often spot rare bird species and marine life during the final moments before touchdown, making this not just a landing but a wildlife tour from above.