The airports nowhere near the cities they're named after

Out of towners

It should be simple: if the destination is part of the airport’s name, it must be close by. Right? Yet many airports drop passengers far from the cities, towns or resorts they’re visiting.

In fact, in many cases, the airports are in different cities or regions altogether. We calculated the distances from these airports to the centre of the destination they're supposed to serve, as the crow flies.

In ascending order of distance, here are some of the airports that are farthest away from the destinations they claim to serve.

Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru, India

Also known as Bangalore International Airport, Kempegowda (BLA) is actually in the town of Devanahalli. It’s 18 miles (29km) from the centre of the high-tech hub of Bengaluru or Bangalore, capital of India’s southern Karnataka state.

Traffic-heavy roads mean it can often take the best part of two hours to arrive in the city, via car, taxi or airport shuttle. Thankfully it’s a rather swanky airport, with a variety of shops and restaurants to make up for the long journey.

Denver International Airport, Colorado, USA

The setting of Denver International Airport (DEN) is, like the city, almost otherworldly: mountains circling and stretching into the distance, and a crispness in the air that can only come from high altitude. But the Mile High City is relatively far from its airport, especially compared to other US destinations, being 19 miles (30km) away if you draw a straight line, and a fair journey by car.

Thankfully there’s a train directly from the airport. It takes 37 minutes but it’s certainly a scenic journey.

Milano Malpensa Airport, Italy

Despite the name, Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP) is around 26 miles (42km) from Milan, in the commune or municipality of Ferno. Milan Linate Airport (LIN) is much closer, right on the edge of the city and just six miles (10km) from the centre. It isn’t too much of a faff to get into town from Milano Malpensa – the region’s biggest airport – though, with public transport typically taking less than an hour.

London Luton Airport, England, UK

There’s such a dizzying array of airports that claim to serve England’s capital, it’s a wonder anyone manages to get their head around it enough to actually book a flight. And it’s all too easy to get sucked in by cheap prices, with any savings quickly cancelled out by train tickets or taxi fares.

London Luton Airport (LTN) tends to fall into that category, at 27 miles (44km) from the centre of London, and Gatwick Airport is also around the same distance away from town. Luckily, both airports run express trains that allow you to reach the centre of town in around 30 minutes.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Scotland, UK

This airport (PIK) is only around a mile (1.6km) away from town. Oh, hang on – that’s from Prestwick. Off to Glasgow? That’ll be 28 miles (45km), then.

Visitors who land at Glasgow’s smaller airport (the main hub is in Paisley and under 10 miles/16km from the centre) face roughly an hour’s journey by public transport to actually get to the city. It can be quicker by car, if you're lucky with traffic.

Incheon International Airport, South Korea

The setting of South Korea’s main airport, Incheon (ICN), is certainly beautiful: the sleek, futuristic terminal buildings are surrounded by landscaping and lush greenery worthy of a botanical garden. Yet, considering this is the primary airport serving the capital city of Seoul, it’s surprisingly far away at just over 30 miles (49km).

Perhaps because the airport is itself the size of a small city.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia

Often it’s second or even third airports, served by cheaper airlines, that are located some distance out of town. That isn’t the case with Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), which is around 30 miles (48km) from the city it serves.

Malaysia’s main international airport is actually in the township of Sepang, south of the capital. It’s so sleek and striking – often named among the world’s top airports – that it can be forgiven.

London Stansted Airport, England, UK

Another of London’s smattering of airports (only City Airport is actually within the capital’s borders), Stansted (STN) is in Essex and is 31 miles (50km) from central London when measuring the distance in a straight line.

In reality, the journey can be a long one, particularly for passengers who book cheap crack-of-dawn departures or late-night arrivals, and end up having to take a very long and very expensive taxi ride between the airport and city.

Verona Brescia Airport, Italy

Though it’s often known as Verona Brescia, this airport is quite some distance from Romeo and Juliet’s hometown. It’s 33 miles (53km) away from central Verona, and significantly farther when you take into account road routes: that means landing at Brescia Montichiari Airport (VBS), as it’s officially known, could add a few hours onto your journey time.

Unless you’re actually visiting Brescia, that is.

Hamburg Lübeck Airport, Germany

Hamburg Lübeck or Flughafen Lübeck Airport (LBC) is actually pretty close to the destination. That is, if you’re going to Lübeck, which is less than five miles (7km) away.

For passengers drawn in by the “Hamburg” part of the name, as used by budget airlines, it’s a different story – and several times the distance to travel. It’s around 34 miles (55km) from this airport to Hamburg city centre in a straight line, taking between one and two hours by car or public transport, depending on traffic.

Tokyo Narita Airport, Japan

Originally named New Tokyo International Airport and also known as Narita International Airport, the location of what’s widely called Tokyo Narita (NRT) is almost as confusing as its roster of names. It’s one of two main airports serving Tokyo and its surroundings – and the farthest away. Haneda (HND), which reclaimed ownership of the Tokyo International Airport title, is much closer to downtown, though more international carriers tend to touch down in Narita – 36 miles (58km) away.

London Southend Airport, England, UK

London Southend Airport (SEN) is actually in one of the destinations included in its name and (clue) it isn’t London. The airport is in Southend-on-Sea in the district of Rochford, and lies around 36 miles (58km) from London’s city centre. And that’s as the crow flies.

Trains, taxis, cars and buses don’t tend to fly so straight, so travellers should allow a couple of hours for the journey.

Düsseldorf Weeze Airport, Germany

It’s officially Weeze Airport (NRN) but low-cost airlines market this landing spot as Düsseldorf Weeze. Never mind that it’s actually in Weeze, a municipality in the Lower Rhine region, 38 miles (61km) from the centre of Düsseldorf.

Which means travellers have a little longer to wait to hit the city’s history-seeped streets and high-fashion boutiques.

Paris-Beauvais Airport, France

Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA) is commonly referred to as Paris-Beauvais Airport – at least by the low-cost airlines that land there. But it’s actually in the commune of Tillé and close to the city of Beauvais. Where isn’t it very close to? Yep – Paris.

At around 45 miles (72km) from the City of Love, it takes around 90 minutes by train or two hours by car (often longer if you hit traffic).

Girona-Costa Brava Airport, Spain

Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO) is regularly offered as an alternative for passengers flying to the Catalan capital (sometimes with “Barcelona” tagged onto the official name). Yet it’s a significant distance away, at 47 miles (76km).

People looking to visit Girona, though, are in luck – it’s only six miles (10km) to the riverside city and its medieval architecture.

Stockholm Västerås Airport, Sweden

The Swedish capital has four airports, with the closest – Bromma – around 6 miles (9km) from the city centre. Relatively small Stockholm Västerås (VST) isn’t actually in Stockholm at all.

In fact it’s around 54 miles (87km) northwest, with journeys by car or public transport typically taking a couple of hours. As its name suggests – one part of its name, anyway – the airport is actually in the city of Västerås.

Torp Sandefjord Airport, Norway

It’s 54 miles (87km) in a straight line from Torp Sandefjord (TRF) to Oslo and it typically takes a couple of hours to reach Norway’s capital by car or public transport. So, not the most convenient, especially for travellers landing out of hours.

But the airport, near the town of Vestfold and south of Oslo, is used by several airlines – particularly low-cost carriers – that serve the city and is sometimes called Oslo-Torp.

Reus Airport, Spain

Many tourists destined for Barcelona land at Reus Airport (REU), despite it being 55 miles (88km) away from the city. It’s better located for the beaches of Costa Daurada, located near the city of Reus and with great views of the sandy coastline on landing.

So, for a beach holiday, twin centre trip, or a coastal drive to Barcelona via Sitges, it’s great. For a weekend city break of tapas and Gaudí sightseeing? Not so much.

London Oxford Airport, England, UK

It doesn’t take a geography degree to spot that London Oxford Airport (OXF) isn’t actually in London, or even the vicinity. It’s 56 miles (90km) away from the city centre as the crow flies, in fact, and was derided when it changed its name from Kidlington Airport in 2009.

The airport is highly rated by passengers, though, and is known for exemplary service. And it’s a mere six miles (9km) from Oxford itself, which makes it a pretty good choice for those looking to visit “the city of dreaming spires”.

Stockholm Skavsta Airport, Sweden

Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) is around 56 miles (90km) southwest of Stockholm in a straight line, and can typically take between one and two hours by car and 90 minutes by public transport. It doesn’t let this distance, or the fact it’s actually in Nyköping, stop it using the city’s name, though, and it’s something of a hub for low-cost airlines bringing passengers to (or near-ish to) Stockholm.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montana, USA

Bozeman Yellowstone (BZN) is the gateway airport to the epic Yellowstone National Park, though it’s something of an epic journey to get to the park once you’ve landed. The park’s north entrance, the closest to the airport, is 57 miles (92km) away, while the centre of the park – close to Yellowstone Lake – is 100 miles (161km) from the Bozeman terminal in a straight line.

(And the roads, especially once in the park, are definitely more on the wiggly side.)

London Ashford Airport, England, UK

Also known, less misleadingly, as Lydd Airport (LYX), this airport in Romney Marsh, Kent, is actually closer to France, which is a mere 40 miles (64km) across the Channel. London Ashford is 60 miles (97km) from England's capital city. Public transport is tricky to say the least, so the only feasible way to get there is a two-hour (traffic permitting) car journey.

The airport was built as a replacement for the old Ashford Airport to serve car ferries and was among the UK’s busiest in the 1960s. Now it mainly sees private aircraft, but has plans for expansion.

Memmingen Airport, Germany

Munich International Airport (MUC) isn’t exactly right in the city centre, being around 17 miles (27km) to the north. But Memmingen Airport, sometimes cheekily called “Munich West” by low-cost airlines, is a little farther out.

It’s a whopping 64 miles (103km) out of town, in fact. There are no easy public transport options, either, so passengers landing here will be faced with a 90-minute drive or a pricey transfer.

Unless it’s the pretty Bavarian town of Memmingerberg you’re looking for – in which case, you’re in luck.

Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, Germany

A mere 65 miles (104km) from Frankfurt as the crow flies, this airport near Kirchberg is an alternative for people travelling to the city on a budget, with low-cost airlines and cargo planes landing here. Frankfurt-Hahn (HHN) is the airport’s official name, too, rather than clever marketing on the part of those airlines.

It’s also a popular choice for people travelling to Luxembourg, which is a similar distance in the opposite direction.

Paris-Vatry Airport, France

Paris-Vatry (XCR) takes the biscuit (or bonbon) for being the most inappropriately named airport on our list. Because, while many airports sneak in the name of one destination that’s really not that nearby, this one sometimes sneaks in two.

At least, certain airlines do, adding “Disney” in brackets. The truth is it’s not very close to Paris city centre or Disneyland Paris, being 84 miles (135km) and 64 miles (103km) away respectively. Cue crying kids/disappointed sightseers/thwarted romance all round.

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