Courchevel Airport in Courchevel, France, has an incredibly steep runway that ends in a sheer rock-face drop. Courchevel's 1,788-foot runway is not only incredibly short but also incredibly steep, with a gradient of 18.5%. And did we mention the sheer rock-face drop the runway ends on?

In 2026, London City Airport (LCY) remains the most famous major airport for its steep descent, requiring a 5.5-degree approach angle—nearly double the standard 3-degree glide slope used at most international airports. This steep path is necessary to comply with noise abatement regulations and to clear the skyscrapers in the nearby Canary Wharf district. Other notable airports with extreme descents include Lugano Airport (LUG) in Switzerland, which features a terrifyingly steep 6.6-degree approach due to the surrounding mountainous terrain. For pure adrenaline, Paro Airport in Bhutan is often cited as the most challenging, as pilots must navigate a series of sharp, low-altitude turns between 18,000-foot Himalayan peaks, only seeing the runway a few seconds before touchdown. These descents require specialized pilot certification and specific aircraft equipment to manage safely.