Note that bolded words are defined at the end of the article.

The runway on the tiny island of Saba holds the record for being the shortest used for commercial passenger flights in the world. But what is it like to fly into the tiny island airport?

There's short, and there's really short!

If you ask people who think they know a thing or two about aviation to name an airport with regular passenger flights with a short runway, you are likely to hear the same few airports.

Tenzing-Hillary Airport, located in Lukla, Nepal, is likely to be most people’s first choice (1,729 ft). Gustaf III Airport on the island of St Barthelemy (also known as St Barts) would be a close runner-up at 2,119 feet. However, these runways are relatively ‘long’ compared to the tiny airstrip on the island of Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. 

Measuring just 1,312ft (400m) in length, Juancho E Yrausquin Airport (SAB) officially has the shortest runway in the world. It is located on the island of Saba, which is an overseas territory of The Netherlands. The runway has three cliff edges over the sea, with the fourth side enclosed by high hills. In fact, the usable runway length, given the obstacles at either end, is just 1,263 ft.

Operations at Saba

Services picked up at the airport when Winair began operating 18-seat de Havilland Twin Otters* in 1965. The airline remains the only scheduled operator at the airport today, using Twin Otters on flights into the tiny island airport.

The single runway at Saba (12/30) measures precisely 1,263 ft (400m) in length. Aircraft can land from either direction, depending on the wind direction and speed. Landing on Saba’s runway has been likened to landing “a bird on a postage stamp” by some of the pilots that fly in there.

Aircraft can access or exit the runway by the single taxiway that connects the runway with the small apron* in front of the terminal building. Aircraft backtrack* on the runway and have to make 180-degree turns before taking off.

Landing on Saba involves a steep descent with a late flare*, reducing airspeed until over the threshold, with maximum braking applied once the wheels contact the runway.

Take-offs are similarly spectacular and require a degree of piloting skill. Maximum engine power is applied before the brakes are released, just like on aircraft carriers, launching the airplane forward until it lifts off and climbs out over the water at the end of the runway.

Given the short length of the runway, Saba is one of the very few airports where a stronger wind actually benefits its operations. According to the Aviation Safety Network website, despite the short runway and its numerous hazards, there have been no known incidents or accidents at the airport since its opening.

Flying into Saba today

Winair remains the sole scheduled operator at the airport, operating regular services between the island and St Barts, St Maarten, and St Eustatius. Flights to the international airport on Sain Maarten take around 15 minutes entirely over water.

The following video contains cockpit footage for the entire flight from St Maarten to Saba, landing on runway 12 at Saba. Skip to 11 minutes to see the plane on final approach.

Saba offers several excellent scuba diving sites and numerous snorkeling opportunities in the Saba National Marine Park. The island also offers scenic mountain walks, including hikes up Mount Scenery, the island’s active volcano.

Ready for adventure?

Suppose you are looking for a flight unlike any other, along with bragging rights, that you have flown into the shortest commercial runway in the world. In that case, you may want to investigate flights to Saba for your next adventure.

If you do get to Saba, remember to give full credit to your pilots. Although they might operate into Saba regularly, there is certainly nothing easy about landing a bird on a postage stamp!

Important Vocabulary

De Haviland Twin Otter -

The de Haviland Twin Otter or the DHC-6 Twin Otter is a plane that used to be manufactured by the Canadian company, de Haviland. These planes are categorized as STOL (Short Takeoff or Landing) planes meaning that they don’t require a long runway, making them crucial for airports with short runways like the one on Saba.

Apron -

The apron is the area of the airport where planes are parked, loaded, unloaded, and refueled.

Backtrack -

A pilot conducts a backtrack when they want to go to the end of the runway in order to use up all of the runway. For example, on Saba, the taxiway that connects to the runway is located in the middle of the runway, forcing pilots to go down the runway and then make a 180-degree turn in order to use the full runway.

Flare -

A maneuver conducted while landing in which the nose of the plane is raised in order to increase drag and reduce speed. This is also done to make the landing softer and it causes the rear wheels to touch the ground first.

This is the end of my post and I hope you enjoyed it! I will see you next time!