Queenstown Airport

This Island Has the Most Beautiful Airport Landing in the World—and the Runway Starts in the Ocean

"Arrivals require a steep descent through dramatic, tightly packed mountain terrain, producing a striking, adrenaline-filled approach that frames the town against alpine peaks; this dramatic mountain descent earned the landing the second-highest attention score in an eye-tracking study of the world's most captivating airport approaches." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines