<strong>Barra Airport: </strong>Barra, in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, is the only airport in the world where scheduled flights land on a beach.
Barra Airport: Barra, in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, is the only airport in the world where scheduled flights land on a beach.
Matt Falcus
<strong>Soft landing:</strong> The Scottish airline Loganair runs two flights today between Barra, an island just eight miles long, and the city of Glasgow.
Soft landing: The Scottish airline Loganair runs two flights today between Barra, an island just eight miles long, and the city of Glasgow.
Matt Falcus
<strong>Departing from Glasgow:</strong> The plane used is a 19-seater de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter.
Departing from Glasgow: The plane used is a 19-seater de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter.
Matt Falcus
<strong>On board:</strong> The compact size means there are no flight attendants, and it's left to the pilots to offer a brief safety demonstration and a few words about the flight.
On board: The compact size means there are no flight attendants, and it's left to the pilots to offer a brief safety demonstration and a few words about the flight.
Matt Falcus
<strong>Scenic:</strong> Barra Airport is a regular fixture in lists of the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcnn.com%2Ftravel%2Farticle%2Fscenic-airport-landings-2019%2Findex.html" target="_blank">World's Most Scenic Airport Landings</a>.
Scenic: Barra Airport is a regular fixture in lists of the World's Most Scenic Airport Landings.
Matt Falcus
<strong>The 'runway': </strong>Near the northern tip of the island an orange windsock stands out against the grassy sand dunes and wide bay of Traigh Mhòr beach.
The 'runway': Near the northern tip of the island an orange windsock stands out against the grassy sand dunes and wide bay of Traigh Mhòr beach.
Matt Falcus
<strong>Timed by the tides: </strong>There is no concrete or tarmac here to land on. Instead, the small commuter aircraft make use of the wide expanse of sand as a makeshift runway, timing arrivals with the tides.
Timed by the tides: There is no concrete or tarmac here to land on. Instead, the small commuter aircraft make use of the wide expanse of sand as a makeshift runway, timing arrivals with the tides.
Matt Falcus
<strong>Terminal: </strong>There is a small terminal building with an excellent cafe.
Terminal: There is a small terminal building with an excellent cafe.
Matt Falcus
<strong>Taking off: </strong>In bad weather, the sand on the runway is covered in seawater, which makes the walk to and from the aircraft slightly more tricky.
Taking off: In bad weather, the sand on the runway is covered in seawater, which makes the walk to and from the aircraft slightly more tricky.
Matt Falcus
<strong>Long history: </strong>There have been scheduled air services to Barra since 1936. This photo is from May 1957. <br />
Long history: There have been scheduled air services to Barra since 1936. This photo is from May 1957.
Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images
<strong>Clearing the runway: </strong>In 1957, airport manager Kitty MacPherson clears flotsam off the beach as she prepares Barra for another arrival. She ran the place single-handedly. <br />
Clearing the runway: In 1957, airport manager Kitty MacPherson clears flotsam off the beach as she prepares Barra for another arrival. She ran the place single-handedly.
Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Getty Images