At This UK Airport, Flights Land On A Beach And Runway Disappears During High Tides

During low tide, the sandy airstrip becomes navigable.

Picture an island reachable by plane, where within five minutes of landing, you could already be riding your first wave. This isn’t some fantasy or distant dream- it’s a reality. Barra Airport, alternatively known as Barra Eoligarry Airport, stands out as an exceptional and noteworthy airport situated in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Home to approximately one thousand residents, the Isle of Barra boasts stunning landscapes rich in history, expansive green fields, and awe-inspiring white sandy beaches. Yet, among its many distinctive features and draws, the airport is one of the most peculiar and captivating attractions.

This is because the runway of the airport can disappear at any time. Sounds crazy right? Well, this happens because the runway is situated on the beach itself. There is a beach-based landing strip at Cockle Strand. Planes land directly here. When the waves are high and strong, the entire runway is submerged in water and hence disappears.

Despite this inconvenience, flights land here daily and caution has to be taken that the flight makes the landing when there is no water on the runway. Sometimes flights are delayed as they keep circling the airport until the waves recede from the runway.

The departure and arrival zone, marked by buoys that shift with the tide, requires pilots to be highly attentive to tidal movements to guarantee safe procedures. When the tide is high, the runways are engulfed by the waves of the North Atlantic. Conversely, during low tide, this sandy airstrip becomes navigable. This inherent cycle of ebb and flow results in fluctuating flight schedules, synchronising with the rhythmic patterns of the sea.

Arriving at or departing from Barra is an incredible adventure. The airport’s picturesque setting and the awe-inspiring sight of planes touching down on the sandy airstrip attract aviation enthusiasts and tourists alike. So much so that in 2011, Barra Airport was crowned the world’s best airport approach, a testament to its undeniable charm and allure. It is also the only beach airport in the world.