Tenzing-Hillary Airport — Lukla, Nepal

LUA is Tenzing-Hillary Airport, located in Lukla, Nepal, and widely regarded as one of the most dangerous airports in the world due to its short, sloped runway perched on a mountainside at roughly 2,845 meters elevation, with a steep drop at one end and a rock wall at the other. Named after Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, the first climbers confirmed to summit Mount Everest, LUA serves as the primary gateway for trekkers and mountaineers heading to Everest Base Camp and the Khumbu region. Flights operate only in clear daylight visual conditions given the surrounding Himalayan terrain, and weather delays are common. Despite the risks, LUA handles substantial seasonal traffic supporting Nepal's trekking tourism industry.