Irish airport named as the second most scenic landing on Earth

AN IRISH airport has been voted in second place in a list of the most scenic airport landings on Earth.

Elsewhere, London City Airport is the sixth most scenic airport in the world while Barra Airport, in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, came in ninth.

That’s according to the 2017 edition of the annual scenic airports poll by PrivateFly, a global booking service for private jet charter and private aircraft hire, which thinks Donegal Airport is one of the world's best.

Saba Airport in the Dutch Caribbean came first. Picture: YouTube

A total of 120 airports received a mention in the poll of thousands of travellers around the globe, including a panel of experts from across the travel industry.

The only airport on Earth more scenic than Donegal is the spectacular Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport on the picturesque Caribbean island of Saba.

Expert judge Adam Twidell explained: “I have landed at Donegal many times and the rugged coastline of Ireland's North West coast is even more awe-inspiring from the air, with the backdrop of Mount Errigal adding to the timeless appeal.

London's City Airport is the sixth most scenic landing in the world. Picture: London City Airport

“You arrive in the Emerald Isle adjacent to one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Carrickfinn. The clear turquoise blue sea is just a bonus on a sunny day.”

Previous winners of the annual poll include Queenstown (2015); Nice Cote D’Azur (2014); St Maarten in the Caribbean (2013) and Barra in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides (2012).

Other airports in the top 10 include Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in the south of France, which came in third place, Gibraltair Airport in fourth and New Zealand's Queenstown Airport in fifth.

Barra Airport in Scotland's Outer Hebrides took ninth place. Picture: YouTube

St Maarten Airport in the Dutch Caribbean came in seventh, in front of Orlando Melbourne Airport in Florida, Barra Airport in Scotland and Billy Bishop Airport Toronto City Airport in Canada.