Airports: Exploring Nations Without Them

Believe it or not, there are countries in the world that do not have airports. While air travel is a convenient mode of transportation for many, there are a handful of nations that rely on other means of transport due to a lack of airports within their borders. These countries are typically small in size and may face geographical challenges that make constructing an airport difficult or impossible. Visitors to these countries usually arrive via neighbouring countries, enjoying scenic mountain roads, train rides, or boat trips along the way. So, which countries are on this unique list?

Countries without airports

Five countries without airports

There are several countries and territories that do not have airports within their boundaries. Of the world's independent states, only five European microstates have no airport within their borders: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. All of these countries, except for Monaco, are landlocked. In addition, two non-self-governing territories, Tokelau and the Pitcairn Islands, do not have airports. These are remote island groups located in the southern Pacific Ocean, requiring a long boat trip to access.

Andorra, located between Spain and France, is the largest of the five European microstates without an airport, spanning 468 square kilometers. Its mountainous terrain makes it challenging to accommodate an airport. Despite the absence of airports, Andorra has three heliports and two airlines based in the country.

Liechtenstein is doubly landlocked, surrounded by Switzerland and Austria. It is a small country with a population of approximately 39,000 and an area of 160 square kilometers. While Liechtenstein does not have its own airport, the nearest airport in Switzerland is easily accessible.

Monaco, a tiny European state with an area of only 2 square kilometers, does not have an airport but has a heliport in Fontvieille that offers commercial helicopter services to the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France.

San Marino, located in North Central Italy, is the world's oldest state. It has an area of 61 square kilometers and a dense road network connecting it to Italy. While San Marino does not have a full-fledged airport, it has a heliport in Borgo Maggiore and a small runway airfield in Torraccia.

Vatican City, located within Rome, Italy, is the smallest country in the world, with an area of just 0.44 square kilometers and a population of around 450 people. Access to Vatican City is primarily on foot, and it is surrounded by other airports, such as Fiumicino and Ciampino, which are easily accessible by train.

In addition to the five European microstates, there are other territories and partially recognized states that do not have airports, such as the Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena, the Sahrawi Republic in the Sahara, and South Ossetia in Russia.

Reasons countries lack airports

Several countries lack airports due to a combination of geographical constraints, small size, limited resources, and political factors. Here are some reasons why some countries do not have airports:

Lack of Space and Geographical Constraints

Some countries, particularly small nations like Monaco, Andorra, and San Marino, lack the physical space to accommodate an airport due to their limited land area and geographical features. For example, San Marino is a microstate surrounded by Italy, and while it has a dense road network, its entire territory is relatively small and landlocked, making it challenging to build an airport.

Isolation and Proximity to Neighbouring Countries

Countries that are completely surrounded by other nations or located in remote areas may not have access to the necessary infrastructure for air travel. For instance, Vatican City, the world's smallest country, is landlocked within Rome, Italy, and primarily accessible on foot. While it has a heliport, its isolation is mitigated by nearby airports in Fiumicino and Ciampino, less than 30 minutes away by train. Similarly, Liechtenstein, Andorra, and Monaco are landlocked and rely on airports in neighbouring countries.

Political and Economic Factors

In some cases, political and economic factors may contribute to a country lacking airports. For example, Palestine is a state that has no functional airports due to regional conflicts. The Gaza International Airport was operational until it was destroyed by Israel in 2000. Additionally, some countries with limited recognition, such as the Sahrawi Republic in the Sahara and South Ossetia in Russia, do not have their own airports.

Population and Demand Considerations

Countries with very small populations may not have the demand or resources to justify building and maintaining an airport. For instance, Vatican City has a population of only 451 people, and San Marino has less than 40,000 residents. Constructing an airport in these cases would require a significant decrease in population to free up space, making it impractical.

Alternative Transportation Options

Some countries without airports have alternative transportation options, such as helipads or heliports to facilitate travel. For instance, Monaco has scheduled helicopter flights to Nice, France, and several small nations have helipads or heliports. Additionally, countries surrounded by water may rely primarily on boat travel, such as the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean.

How to reach countries without airports

There are several countries and territories that do not have airports. Of the world's independent states, only five European microstates lie entirely within the boundaries of other countries: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. All of these countries have at least one heliport, and all except for Liechtenstein are not landlocked. Additionally, two non-self-governing territories, Tokelau and the Pitcairn Islands, do not have airports and can only be reached by boat.

Andorra

Andorra is a small country located in the Pyrenees mountains between Spain and France. To reach Andorra, you can fly to either Barcelona, Spain, or Toulouse, France, and then travel to Andorra by road.

Liechtenstein

To reach Liechtenstein, you can fly to Zurich or St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport in Switzerland and then travel to Liechtenstein by road.

Monaco

Monaco, a small country located on the French Riviera, can be reached by flying to Nice, France, and then taking a helicopter or boat transfer. Monaco also has an extensive road network connecting it to nearby French and Italian cities.

San Marino

San Marino is a landlocked country located within Italy. To reach San Marino, you can fly to any major city in Italy, such as Rome, Florence, Pisa, Bologna, or Venice, and then travel to San Marino by road.

Vatican City

Vatican City is a small city-state located within Rome, Italy. To reach Vatican City, you can fly to Rome and then travel to Vatican City by train, bus, or car.

In addition to these countries, there are other ways to travel the world without relying solely on air travel. For example, the Silk Road is a historic trade route connecting East Asia to the Mediterranean, passing through countries such as China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey. It offers a unique overland travel experience and provides an opportunity to explore ancient cities and architectural wonders. Traveling by freighters, buses, trains, and boats can also be an alternative to flying and can offer a more flexible and scenic journey.

Countries with the most airports

The United States has the most airports in the world. Sources state that there are between 14,850 and 20,000 airports across the country, with 5,211 of those being public airports. Texas alone has 1,494 airports. The US has some of the largest airports in the world by area, such as Denver International Airport, which spans 135.69 square kilometres. The US also has the most passenger flights in the world, with over 25,000 flights and 2.5 million air passengers each day.

Brazil is second, with around 5,000 airports, just under 500 of which are public. Brazil's massive land area is one of the reasons for its high number of airports. The busiest airport in the country is São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, which serves 34.5 million passengers annually.

Mexico is third, with 1,485 airports, including 100 major and international airports for public use. Mexico City International Airport is the country's busiest, with 46.2-48.38 million passengers in 2023.

Canada is fourth, with around 1,425-1,467 airports, including 26 major airports and 71 regional and local airports. Toronto Pearson International Airport is the country's busiest, with 35.6 million passengers annually, making it the second busiest airport in North America.

The United Kingdom is fifth, with 1,043 airports, and London Heathrow is the country's busiest airport, serving over 79 million passengers in 2023.

Other countries in the top ten include Russia, Germany, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, and Indonesia.

In contrast, only five European microstates do not have airports within their boundaries, although all have at least one heliport. These countries are Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Additionally, of the world's 17 non-self-governing territories, two have no airport within their boundaries: Tokelau and the Pitcairn Islands.

Countries with no domestic airports

There are a few countries that do not have airports within their boundaries. Most of these are small nations in Europe and a few non-self-governing territories.

The five European microstates without airports are Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. All of these, except for Monaco, are landlocked. While these countries do not have airports, they do have heliports. For example, Monaco has a heliport in Fontvieille that offers commercial services to the Nice Côte d'Azur Airport in France. Similarly, Andorra has three heliports in La Massana, Arinsal, and Escaldes-Engordany.

Of the world's 17 non-self-governing territories, two have no airport within their boundaries: Tokelau and the Pitcairn Islands. Both are remote island groups in the southern Pacific Ocean, so a fairly long boat trip is the only way to get there. Palestine may also be considered a country without an airport, as all airports in Gaza and the West Bank have long been non-operational.

Some other partially recognized states that have no airports of their own include the Sahrawi Republic in the Sahara and South Ossetia in Russia.

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