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Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport

Zion's Hill, Caribbean Netherlands
Routes out
1
Destinations
1
ICAO
TNCS
Elevation
60 ft
The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport

SAB
Location
Zion's Hill · SA · Caribbean Netherlands
Connectivity
1 routes · 1 destinations
Position
17.645°, -63.221° · 60 ft elev.
Visa & Entry
Official visa, passport and entry information for Caribbean Netherlands is published by it
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A closer look

Living guide content for Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport — read or listen in 46+ languages.

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Eat the island, not the airport

Let's be honest with you upfront: Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is one of the smallest commercial airports on the planet, and its dining scene reflects that intimate scale entirely. The terminal is essentially a single open-air room, and there is no formal restaurant or food court to speak of. What you will find is a modest refreshment counter where you can grab a cold Bright beer — Saba's beloved local brew — a soft drink, or a simple snack before your short hop to Sint Maarten or Sint Eustatius.

That said, the locals and frequent fliers know the real secret: eat before you fly. The village of The Bottom and nearby Windwardside are only a short drive away, and both offer genuinely wonderful Caribbean Dutch cooking worth planning around. Look for johnnycakes stuffed with saltfish, hearty goat stew, and fresh lobster caught from Saba's marine park waters. These are the flavors that define this tiny island, and savoring them at a hilltop café with a volcano view beats any airport lounge experience hands down.

If your schedule is tight and you truly need something airside, the staff at the counter are famously warm and will often point you toward whatever is freshest that day — sometimes a home-style pastry or local fruit brought in that morning. Saba runs on community rhythms more than commercial ones, and the airport is no exception. Think of the refreshment nook less as a dining destination and more as a neighborly send-off, the kind where someone presses a cold drink into your hand and wishes you safe travels.

Highlights
Local Bright Beer
Saba's own crisp lager is the signature airside drink worth grabbing before departure.
Eat in The Bottom
Plan a meal in the capital village for goat stew and fresh Caribbean lobster.
Johnnycakes with Saltfish
This beloved island staple is the must-try snack before heading to the airport.
Home-Style Pastries
Staff occasionally bring fresh local baked goods, a charming community-driven touch.
No Formal Restaurant
The terminal is tiny; a refreshment counter is your only airside food option.
Windwardside Cafés
Nearby hillside spots offer stunning views and proper meals just minutes from the runway.
Generated by AI · cached · verify before travel
TravelerPulse profile

One of the world's shortest and most dangerous runways.

Opened
1963
Location
Zion's Hill, Caribbean Netherlands
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport serves the small Dutch Caribbean island of Saba and is widely regarded as one of the most challenging airports in the world to operate. Its single runway measures only about 400 meters (1,312 feet) in length, making it the shortest commercial runway on Earth, with steep drop-offs into the sea at both ends. The airport sits on a narrow coastal shelf on the island's north side and can only accommodate small propeller-driven aircraft due to its extreme runway limitations. Operations require specially trained pilots, and the approach is considered highly demanding due to surrounding terrain and ocean cliffs. The airport is named after Juancho Irausquin, a prominent Aruban politician. It serves as the only air link for Saba's small population and is vital for connecting residents and visitors to larger regional hubs, particularly Sint Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport.
Terminals
The airport has a single small terminal building with minimal facilities, reflecting the island's very low passenger volume.
Getting to & from
Taxis are the primary means of ground transportation from the airport to the island's villages and accommodations.
Airlines here
Winair (Windward Islands Airways) is the primary carrier operating scheduled service to and from the airport.
Notable facts
  • ›Has the shortest commercial airport runway in the world at approximately 400 meters (1,312 feet).
  • ›Both ends of the runway terminate at steep cliffs dropping into the sea.
  • ›Only small STOL-capable propeller aircraft such as the Twin Otter can operate here.
  • ›Pilots must receive special authorization and training to land at this airport.
  • ›The airport is named after Aruban politician Juancho Irausquin.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (1 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Routes

SAB → SXMWM · DHT
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City & Place Guide

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Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via SAB? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Caribbean Netherlands from official government sources.

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport
Encyclopaedia

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is an airport on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, Netherlands. Its runway is widely acknowledged as the shortest commercial runway in the world, with a length of 400 m (1,312 ft).

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About on Wikipedia

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport

Airport on Saba, Dutch Caribbean, Netherlands

Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport is an airport on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, Netherlands. Its runway is widely acknowledged as the shortest commercial runway in the world, with a length of 400 m (1,312 ft).

Read on Wikipedia

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA. May be out of date — verify important details.

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