Malta International Airport has topped a global poll of the world's most scenic landings*, conducted by the private jet booking service PrivateFly. The company asked a panel of international travel experts and travel fans for their most scenic airport approaches in its annual survey, with the most votes this year going to the small European island airport. 

One voter commented: “Landing on this gem in the Mediterranean sea is not to be missed! The islands of Malta and Gozo fit into your window...the sea, the blue skies, the landscape, the greenery, the cities, the temples, and all the colours that this beautiful island has to offer. Beats any landing by far!” 

A panel of major names in the travel industry formed the shortlist for the public vote, with ex-New York Times travel writer Joe Sharkey nominating Malta. He commented: "Approached from a churning blue sea; the tiny, isolated rocky island nation suddenly appears and you immediately understand Malta's strategic geo-political importance for literally millennia by sea and later air in the middle of the Mediterranean." 

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).  

Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly and an experienced pilot, comments: “PrivateFly's poll has become an annual checklist for the well-travelled, and this year's voting was the most competitive yet. The 2016 top 10 includes perennial favourites such as the imposing city views of Los Angeles and London City; the stunning mountain scenery of Queenstown; the tiny island airstrip of Saba in the Caribbean (the world's shortest commercial runway); and the unique beach landing at Barra in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. But also a new entrant, the remote and rugged Donegal in north west Ireland. 

“Flying into Malta is a truly special experience - it's a tiny island landing that packs a big punch. There is so much to take in. Without being hectic, the landscape changes from coast, to farmland to the historic city of Valletta. It's like flying into a Picasso painting.” 

Malta International Airport's CEO Alan Borg added: “We are truly flattered by this award and the feedback Malta International Airport received in this poll, strengthening our belief that Malta enthralls visitors from the first glimpse and offers a unique experience year-round. We hope that topping PrivateFly's poll will boost our ongoing efforts to entice guests who have not yet experienced our Islands to discover our rich history, culture, hospitality, and underwater world, first hand.”

The full top 10 is as follows:

1. Malta International Airport, Malta

2. Nice Cote D'Azur Airport, France

3. Queenstown Airport, New Zealand

4. Barra Airport, Scotland, UK

5. Saba Airport (Juancho E Yrausquin), Caribbean

6. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, Canada

7. Donegal Airport, Ireland

8. St Maarten Airport (Princess Juliana International), Caribbean

9. Los Angeles International Airport, USA

10. London City Airport, UK

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

See full results, images and an infographic of the top 10 landings.

Further images, video, or information about the airports, poll and judging panel are available on request.

*The PrivateFly Scenic Airport Approaches 2016 poll was conducted in February and March 2016 and received over 7,500 individual votes. A total of 115 different global airports received nominations.

About PrivateFly:

PrivateFly is the leading global booking platform for private jet charter, making it faster, easier and more cost-effective to compare and book private jets. With over 7000 aircraft integrated worldwide, PrivateFly combines innovative technology with a VIP multilingual operations team, available 24/7.

For further information please contact: 

Viv Diprose, PrivateFly

T: +44 (0)7931 624864

E: viv@privatefly.com 

Katrina Suppiah, Publicité Ltd

T: +44 (0)20 8543 6582

E: k.suppiah@publicite.co.uk