Airbus is a global aircraft manufacturer with manufacturing plants in many different locations and countries.

At its heart, however, Airbus is a European manufacturer bringing together various aerospace companies in developing a parts and sections of a range of its airliner and other aircraft products.

With its main headquarters in Toulouse, the second main European assembly plant is at Hamburg’s Finkenwerder airport, located on the banks of the River Elbe a short distance from the city centre and the main Hamburg International Airport.

About Hamburg Finkenwerder

This small airport has developed because of aircraft manufacturing, and has never served as a civil airport.

Starting as a seaplane base, it had wartime use, and since then has gradually been expanded into a bay in the river to provide more and more space for the insatiable appetite for Airbus products.

It has a single runway, with most of the manufacturing taking place on the north side.

The south side has some other development areas, as well as the delivery centre, where brand new airliners are handed over to their customers.

What Aircraft Are Built at Hamburg?

Airbus A321neo aircraft ready for testing at Hamburg Finkenwerder.

Today, Airbus primarily produces its A321neo range of airliners at Hamburg Finkenwerder.

This encapsulates the various sub-variants, such as the LR and XLR.

The site also produces the A319neo, and works on sections of the A330neo and A350, which are then shipped off elsewhere for final assembly using the giant Beluga and BelugaXL transporter aircraft.

Other plants in Mobile, USA and Tianjin, China, as well as Toulouse in France, also produce some A321neo aircraft.

Airbus Tours at Hamburg

The travel agency where Airbus tours commence.

Airbus offers tours of its manufacturing facilities at Hamburg Finkenwerder.

These are an excellent way for enthusiasts to get up close to these brand-new aircraft and airframes. If you log aircraft, it’s a way of ticking off the newest examples before they even fly. You’ll also see aircraft that are destined for airlines in countries far away from your usual spotting locations.

The tours start at the Travel Centre near the main gate.

You will be given a headset to listen in to the tour guide, who will speak either German or English (your choice), and describe the many areas of the facility as you tour around.

©Airbus SAS 2023

You will travel on a bus to the various areas, but will frequently get off to enjoy close-up views and talks in the different halls, as well as design and testing areas.

Sadly, photography is not permitted on the tours or in any of the manufacturing halls or parking areas.

You are permitted to use binoculars and write down registrations or serials, which are usually printed on the airframes even before final assembly or painting.

Tips for Plane Spotters

Airbus / Stefan Kruijer

Since you can’t take any photographs or use your mobile phone on tours, it is difficult to log everything on the tour.

The bus will pass rows of fuselage sections, one after the other, with construction numbers marked on. You’ll need to be very quick to write these down, as well as anything you spot through hangar doors and on the parking areas.

It is useful to have more than one person to help with the logging.

An example of a serial number printed on a fuselage section. You need to note these as you pass. Airbus – Stefan Kruijer

In one particular building, we asked a security guard if we could climb to the top floor and look out of the window over the large outdoor store, where we read off all airframes using binoculars.

It’s also useful to use websites like https://aviation.flights/aib/family and https://www.airfleets.net/ for keeping track of the latest airframes and what has been spotted at Hamburg.

Make sure you keep a notepad and pen(s) with you on your tour.

How to Book an Airbus Tour at Hamburg

Airbus tours at Hamburg Finkenwerder can be booked at this website: https://werksfuehrung.de/en/aerospace/airbus-factory-tour

Tours cost € 24,90 (or € 21,90 for students and pensioners), and last around 2.5 hours.

Be sure to book your tour well in advance of your visit as they can fill up, particularly in the summer months.

Title image: Airbus Operations GmbH 2023 / Stefan Kruijer