Every time we travel to Greece by plane we enjoy unique images of the country from above. Our safe landing is ensured by the specially trained pilots of the various airlines, who can cope even with the most difficult of airports., And the Aegean Islands have some of the most “exciting” runways to land. We are talking about the impressive airports of the Aegean Islands that seem to touch the sea. In many cases, moreover, waves from it can reach the runway, especially during the winter months. The images from above are extremely impressive.
Let us some of them…
Ikaria
Ikaria airport is called, of course, Icarus. When you see it, it literally takes your breath away as it’s just a strip in the sea. The runway is quite small and as shown (outdoor photo) ends up a few meters away from the sea. For some passengers, the landings look spectacular. And it really is when you have a view like that. Ikaria is one of the airports of the Aegean which has a lot of traffic in the summer as it is one of the most favourite but distant islands of the Dodecanese. So, travelling by plane is definitely easier and faster.
Kasos
Photo Source: Google Maps
A similar image can be seen at Kasos airport. The narrow runway is located almost on the coastline of the small island. Thus, the distance from the sea is really minimal and seems even shorter when you look at it from above. Passengers see the landing site being “beaten” by the waves from three different sides. Definitely, the landing is not something easy at this particular airport, especially in winter.
Skiathos
Photo Source: Google Maps
The airport “Alexandros Papadiamantis” is probably one of the most famous Greek airports. And that’s because of its location. The place where its small and narrow runway has been built is close to a popular beach of the island. Thus, the planes that land have to approach at such a low hight that they literally “scratch” the heads of swimmers. This landing is, of course, impressive and certainly dangerous.
Kastelorizo
Photo Source: Google Maps
This particular airport in Kastelorizo does not touch the sea but… leads to it! The runway of the small airport on the island is elevated and among hills. Both at the beginning and at the end of it there is a cliff. If you’ve traveled to this particular airport, you may have had a difficult landing. This is because if, for any reason, the pilot does not calculate the distance correctly, then he is forced to do the so-called touch-and-go. What’s that supposed to mean? In this process, passengers see the wheels of the plane momentarily touch the ground and immediately retract.
Kalopigado is the beach in Attica that you will love from the first moment. External photography source: Google Maps
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Frequently Asked Questions
The most impressive Aegean airports that touch the sea include Ikaria Airport (Icarus), Kasos Airport, and Skiathos Airport (Alexandros Papadiamantis). Ikaria's runway is literally a strip in the sea ending just meters from the water, while Kasos airport's narrow runway is built almost on the coastline with waves beating it from three sides. Skiathos Airport is famous for its proximity to a popular beach, requiring planes to land at such low heights they pass over swimmers.
Yes, landings at Aegean Island airports near the sea are safe thanks to specially trained pilots who can handle even the most difficult airport conditions. However, these airports do present challenges, especially during winter months when waves can reach the runways. Pilots undergo extensive training to manage the unique landing conditions at these coastal airports.
Skiathos Airport (Alexandros Papadiamantis) is one of the most famous Greek airports due to its extraordinary location near a popular beach. The small narrow runway is positioned so close to the beach that landing planes approach at extremely low heights, literally passing over swimmers. This makes it one of the most visually impressive but challenging airports in Greece.
A touch-and-go landing at Kastelorizo Airport occurs when a pilot briefly touches the runway with the plane's wheels and immediately retracts them without fully landing. This can happen at Kastelorizo due to its challenging runway location between hills and cliffs at both ends. If a pilot miscalculates the distance, they may need to perform this maneuver before attempting another landing.
Aegean Island airports have difficult landing conditions because many are built on small islands with limited space, forcing them to be positioned extremely close to the sea or between challenging terrain. Kasos and Ikaria airports are surrounded by water on multiple sides, while Skiathos is near a beach and Kastelorizo is elevated between cliffs. These geographical constraints, combined with winter weather and waves reaching the runways, make them among the most challenging airports in Greece.
