Airports Are Far From Just Another Piece of Concrete

Every stop—and every runway for that matter—really does have its own personality.

Les Abend

Wednesday, April 01, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A widebody jet overflies the beach on short final to the runway at St. Maarten in the Caribbean. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

While pilots may outwardly claim all airports are "just pieces of concrete," the author argues that many possess unique personalities and significant operational challenges.
New York’s LaGuardia (KLGA) presents difficulties with its short runways, congested location, and the need for precision, especially in adverse weather.
Other challenging airports include St. Maarten (TNCM), which requires high-performance takeoffs due to a short runway and nearby terrain, and London Heathrow (EGLL), known for its high traffic and strict Continuous Descent Approach (CDA) for noise abatement.

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Light years ago, I was nearby to hear a quintessential crusty, old captain’s response to an inquiry from a passenger that prompted him to say that at the end of the day, all airports were just pieces of concrete to land the airplane. The statement is pure bravado, implying that setting the wheels down on any runway anywhere in the world is routine.

Indeed, as well-trained professional pilots, it should be routine. But for those of us that are seasoned veterans of the sky, we know that airports have their own idiosyncrasies.