If you’re into logging aircraft tail registrations rather than aircraft photography, the best places for you to go spotting are the ones where you’ll get to see as many aircraft as possible during your visit.

With the help of tracking apps, you don’t even necessarily need to be within reach of binoculars (depending on how much of a purist you are. What are your rules on spotting? Do you need to see the registration with your own eyes? Leave a comment below!)

So, in order to get the most out of a spotting trip, you need to be at a busy airport with a good vantage point of the operational runways or parking areas.

The best airports around the world for this – particularly for spotting airliners and biz jets (commercial aircraft), rather than military or light aircraft – are the following:

London Heathrow

London Heathrow

Britain (and Europe’s) busiest airport. Heathrow is a major hub which sees airlines from all over the world fly in daily.

It is a hub for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, and has one of the busiest air links in the world to New York JFK. There are many unusual airlines flying in daily, and especially big jets like A380s and 787s.

Popular spotting locations where you can see all movements include the viewing grandstand on the northern perimeter (no good for photography) and the Renaissance concourse hotel.

Dallas Ft Worth

One of the world’s busiest airports, Dallas Ft Worth is one of two major hubs in Texas (alongside Houston Intercontinental).

It is the main base for American Airlines, and their partner American Eagle, who between them make up most of the hundreds of daily movements. You’ll also see plenty of other US airlines and international carriers.

The DFW Founder’s Plaza is a good place to watch movements on all runways. It’s located at 1700 N Airfield Dr, 76051.

Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International

Holding the mantle of being the busiest airport in the world for many years, Atlanta’s main airport is a giant hub with five runways and six concourses to its terminal.

It is the main hub for Delta Air Lines, with hundreds of their aircraft passing through daily. It is also a busy cargo hub, and a hub for Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines.

The best place for spotting is the Renaissance Concourse hotel kn the northern perimeter. If you get a room with a balcony you can sit and log from early in the morning till late at night and see many aircraft enter your logbook.

[Here’s a report on visiting Atlanta’s Renaissance Concourse hotel]

Dubai International

Photo (c) Victor

Dubai has grown into a major international airport thanks to Emirates and Flydubai. It is also visited by hundreds of other aircraft every day, many from interesting airlines and destinations often not seen elsewhere in Europe or Asia.

It can be a little unwise to spot openly here, so if you get a room at the Premier Inn or Nojoum Apartments in particular, you can spot in relative peace.

Singapore Changi

Photo (c) S5A-0043

Often voted the world’s best airport from a passenger perspective, Singapore Changi is also one of the best in Asia for spotters.

It’s home, naturally, to Singapore Airlines and Scoot, but also sees lots of interesting aircraft fly in from China, Indonesia and other Far East countries.

There are various viewing areas around the terminals to use, each with a slightly different view. Moving between them can help ensure you see most of the aircraft present!

Beijing Capital

Photo (c) byeangel

Whilst Beijing’s new Daxing International airport is growing, Capital is still the busiest airport serving the city.

Capital is one of the better airports for spotting at in China, which is useful considering the sheer number of aircraft that pass through.

It is a great place to see steady streams of movements by China’s airlines throughout the day, as well as international carriers.

A good place to spot is the viewing area to the south near the Cordis hotel.

This dedicated area is situated under the final approach to runway 36R. It is elevated, with views over the western side of the airfield, Terminal 3, and the nearby executive apron. Photography is good from this spot, which is reached by walking along the twisting path from the terminal. Alternatively, you can reach the spot by road.

New York JFK

Photo (c) Anthony Quintano

Whilst it isn’t America’s busiest airport, JFK is certainly an interesting one in terms of aircraft variation.

It serves as the main international gateway to New York (alongside Newark) and sees many European, Asian, South American and African carriers coming in.

It is also a hub for American Airlines, Delta and JetBlue.

Spotting can be difficult in the centre, unless you ride the AirTrain between terminals to log what you can see.

The TWA Hotel is also a great place to stay and spot from.

[Here’s a guide to some of the other spotting locations at JFK]

Frankfurt

Germany’s busiest airport has long been a favourite amongst spotters.

It is a hub for Lufthansa, especially for long-haul and European services, and it is served by many international carriers daily.

Thankfully the airport provides a number of spotting locations in various places so that you can see and log the aircraft movements.

The simplest for those merely wishing to log aircraft is the viewing terrace on top of Terminal 2, which is east to get to.

[Frankfurt Terminal 2 Viewing Terrace Guide]

Miami International

A favourite for spotters looking to see some exotic airliners in the United States – particularly from South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. It is also a busy cargo hub, and an American Airlines base.

Miami has four runways – three parallel, and another (12/30) running diagonally across the field. A large a complex passenger terminal occupies the central eastern side of the airport, split into North, Central and South concourses. Also in this area is a maintenance base for American Airlines, which is the airport’s dominant carrier.

A spot on the western side of the airport is popular with photographers, and the airport authorities have even created holes in the fence to make photography a little easier. This spot is ideal for arrivals on runways 08L/R and runway 30 departures. To reach it from the 826N Expressway, exit onto NW 25th St and drive towards the airport fence.

There’s a spot on the southern perimeter close to the threshold of runway 09. It is good for arrival shots, and watching aircraft depart this runway, which is often used by cargo carriers and arrivals from South America.

São Paulo Congonhas

Photo (c) Gabriel Magacho – Spotting

Congonhas is the central airport serving São Paulo, and a great place to catch up on the domestic and regional fleets of Brazil’s airlines.

Carriers like Azul, Gol and LATAM fly many services from here.

Even though movements are capped at 30 per hour, there’s still plenty to see through the day.

You can spot when airside in the terminal.

The best slot outside is from the Memorial 17 de Julho park near the northern perimeter, at R. Baronesa de Bela Vista, 203 (the site of an infamous plans crash in 2007.

México City

Mexico is becoming a very busy country for aviation. Many airlines now ply domestic routes and the capital’s main airport can be quite busy.

It also sees lots of local, government and police movements.

Views are possible around the airport, such as from the footbridge near Terminal 1. But be careful in some of the neighbouring areas as they are not always completely safe and the police are known to look for bribes.

The best (and safest) spotting location is a room overlooking the airport in the Hilton hotel inside the terminal.

Tokyo Haneda

Photo (c) Gilbert Sopakuwa

Considered Japan’s best airport for spotting Haneda is also the closest hub to Tokyo.

The other, at Narita, is busy and interesting but a little farther away.

Haneda sees many movements from Japan Airlines, ANA and other domestic carriers, as well as lots of international airlines from around the world.

There are viewing terraces on each of the terminals, so you can always find a good vantage point!

Los Angeles International

California, and the West Coast’s, busiest airport with a good mix of international and more local carriers.

The various terminals sit between four parallel runways – two to the north and two to the south.

There’s also a good mix of cargo and executive movements each day.

The three best places for spotting are the Jim Clutter Park off Imperial Highway, the Proud Bird Restaurant at 11022 Aviation Blvd, 90045, or the In ’n’ Out Burger at 9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, 90045.

Charlotte Douglas

Photo (c) Sean Davis

Finally, an airport that might not seem an obvious choice, but believe it or not is one of the busiest in the world by aircraft movements.

Charlotte Douglas is a hub for American Airlines and American Eagle, and sees various other US and international carriers.

It sees lots of cargo Ames executive movements and, for military aircraft fans, it’s also home to a busy Air National Guard base.

The airport provides a viewing area known as The Overlook off N Overlook Dr, along the northern perimeter.

World Airports Spotting Guides

Our Guide book to plane spotting at hundreds of airports around the world is available to order now.

It tells you the best plane spotting locations, spotting hotels, and what you’ll see.

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