Fasten your seatbelts, PrivateFly reveals top 10 most scenic airport landings 2014
Nice Côte D'Azur Airport has topped a global poll of the world’s most scenic airport landings*, conducted by the private jet booking service, PrivateFly.com. The company asked international travel experts and travel fans for their most scenic airport landings in its annual survey, with the most votes this year going to the South of France airport. Voters praised its “sublime beauty”, “turquoise waters, red rocks, snow capped mountains”, and “amazing views of the French Riviera”.
Major names in the travel industry helped form the 2014 shortlist for the public vote including Bill Prince, deputy editor of GQ magazine; Murdo Morrison, editor of Flight International; David Scowsill, President of the World Travel and Tourism Council; and Patrick Jephson - author, pilot and former equerry to Diana, Princess of Wales.
Judge Sylvie Peron, editor of aviation magazine, Altitudes Europe, nominated Nice, commenting: “Beautiful approach either from North East over the Alps then Monaco or West with the red Esterel mountains on the left and blue Med on the right".
Previous winners of the annual poll include St Maarten in the Caribbean (2013) and Barra in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides (2012).
Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly, and an experienced pilot, comments: “The poll’s results give travel fans a checklist of global descents to experience at least once in a lifetime. It’s a fascinating mix, including major city views such as Rio, Los Angeles and London City; stunning Caribbean island approaches; and tiny remote airstrips such as Canada’s Squamish, or the unique beach landing at Barra in Scotland.
“Nice Côte D’Azur is a well-deserved winner. The breathtaking approach embodies the timeless glamour and character of the Côte D’Azur, you couldn’t be anywhere else. It offers a winning combination of blue sea, sky and mountains, along with glimpses of the stunning homes, yachts and helicopters buzzing below.”
Dominique Thillaud, CEO of Aéroports de la Côte d'Azur (ACA), added: "We are very proud that Nice airport was voted the most beautiful view in the world in 2014, this is undeniable international recognition of the attractiveness of our area. Indeed, it is this exceptional setting of the Côte d'Azur, between mountains and sea, which attracts visitors from around the world to pass through our airports, both for tourism and for business."
The full top ten is as follows:
- Nice Côte D’Azur, France
- St Maarten, French Caribbean
- Barra, Scotland, UK
- Los Angeles LAX, USA
- Aruba, Dutch Caribbean
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
- Gibraltar, UK overseas territory
- Squamish, Canada
- London City, UK
- Queenstown, New Zealand
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