The Sion airport in Switzerland was placed first among the world’s top 10 most stunning aerial approaches. Nestled in the heart of the Alps, the approach takes one down the Rhone valley

Two UK airports – one a busy inner-city hub, the other featuring a beach runway – are in the list.

London City Airport provides “a highly scenic approach over world-famous London landmarks”, said jet booking company PrivateFly.com which drew up the list.

The other UK entry in the top 10 was Barra airport in Outer Hebrides where planes land on the beach and flight times vary according to the tide.

London City was described as providing “amazing views” of the 02 arena in Greenwich, with the runway described by pilots as “an aircraft carrier” for being relatively short and surrounded by water.

At Barra, “visitors and cockle-pickers share the use of the beach”

1. Sion, Switzerland;
2. Princess Juliana Airport, St Maarten, Caribbean -– Close to the beach, with aircraft skimming over the heads of holidaymakers;
3. St Barts, Caribbean – Thrilling approach and a short runway;
4. Gibraltar – Runway is actually intersected by a main road which has to be closed every time a plane lands or departs;
5. St Gallen in Altenrhein, Switzerland – idyllic setting between Lake Constance and the alpine foot hills of the Appenzell region;
6. Funchal, Madeira – Bordered by water and hills;
7. London City – The steep approach makes for a fairground ride-like buzz;
8. Lukla, Nepal – A 10-minute approach down a steep-sided valley followed by a sharp left-hand turn and an uphill landing;
9. McCarran Airport, Las Vegas – The approach offers the contrast of desert with a sudden metropolis.
10. Barra, outer Hebrides, UK – Car lights provide pilots with added visibility, since the airport has no artificial lighting.