Samedan Airport (IATA: SMV, ICAO: LSZS), also known as Engadin Airport, is a high-alpine public and general aviation airport located in the Engadin valley of Switzerland, about 5 km from St. Moritz. At an elevation of 1,707 m (5,600 ft) above sea level, it is one of the highest airfields in Europe for fixed-wing aircraft.
The airport has a single runway, designated 03/21, measuring 1,800 m × 40 m (5,905 ft × 130 ft), surfaced with asphalt. Due to its location in a deep valley and challenging terrain, there is no traditional ILS; instrument approaches are now supported via GNSS-based (satellite) procedures.
Samedan is primarily a VFR (visual flight rules) airport, but since December 2021, it also supports GNSS-IFR (instrument flight rules) arrivals, provided pilots complete a mandatory online briefing. Because of the airport’s altitude and topography, special pilot qualification is required; pilots must complete a familiarization briefing and pass a test.
The airfield supports a broad range of general aviation traffic, including private and business jets. Fuel, de-icing, and snow-clearance services are available, and hangar space exists for light and corporate jets.
Because of its challenging geography, flight operations are limited: there is no runway lighting, and night operations are not allowed. The airport is also subject to specific VFR weather minimums due to its alpine environment.
On the development front, the airport’s authority has modernized operations: the introduction of satellite-based GNSS approaches has improved access under instrument conditions, and a new terminal and control tower are planned.
Overall, Samedan Airport remains a specialized high-altitude gateway, especially popular for private and business aviation connecting to St. Moritz and the Upper Engadin region.
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