Miami Airport Spotting Guide

Spotters have long flocked to Miami for a variety of reasons. Aside from the pleasant weather year-round, the airport has long been the primary US hub for flights to Latin America, which traditionally brought in a variety of exotic airlines and aircraft. Whilst older types and prop airliners are rarer these days, Miami still presents and interesting mix of carriers, and has a large cargo operation which also brings in airlines aside from the usual FedEx, DHL and UPS seen at most other US airports. Miami is a major hub for American Airlines.

Miami Airport Spotting Locations

1. Western Boundary
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.

2. Southern Boundary

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. To reach the spot, head south on Millam Dairy Rd which passes close to the spot above. Turn east onto NW12th St. At the next lights, turn left onto NW 72nd Ave near the El Dorado furniture store and follow to the end.

3. Cargo Area

NW 22nd St, which runs into NW 62nd Ave, runs past some of the cargo aprons on the western side of the airport, allowing you to log aircraft that might not be visible from elsewhere. You can also see the cross runway. It’s not advisable to hang around here too long. Similarly NW 68th Ave also runs to a point where cargo aircraft and the southern runway can be seen.

Miami Spotting Hotels

Hilton Miami Airport
5101 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, FL 33126 | +1 305 262 1000 | www.hilton.com

A good hotel for views over the southern half of the airport, particularly when runways 27 or 30 are in use. Aircraft on the northern runways are a little difficult to see. Ask for a high room facing the airport. Executive double rooms with balconies offer the best views. Lately mesh has been added to the balconies which restricts photography.

Clarion Inn & Suites
5301 NW 36th St, Miami Springs, FL 33166 | +1 305 871 6000 | www.comfortinn.com

The best hotel for in-room spotting at Miami. High rooms facing the airport overlook the 08/26 runways and northern airport. All movements can be seen, but those on the southern part of the airport may need a SBS or flight tracking site to tie up.

Aircraft You’ll See at Miami Airport

By Venkat Mangudi (P1171061) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Miami has also traditionally been a gateway to Latin America. Interesting airlines currently flying to Miami include:

• Aerolineas Argentinas
• Avianca
• Avior Airlines
• Boliviana
• Cayman Airways
• Dominican Wings
• LASER Airlines
• LATAM
• PAWA Dominicana
• SBA Airlines
• Surinam Airways
• VivaColombia
• Volaris

Additionally, there are a lot of interesting cargo carriers using Miami Airport, including:

• Amerijet
• Asiana
• Avianca
• Centurion Air Cargo
• IBC Airways
• KF Cargo
• Transportes Aereos Bolivianos

By Brian (Flickr: Centurian Cargo) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Nearby Attractions

There’s always something interesting to see at Miami, but if you find yourself wanting more, nearby airports such as Opa Locka, Fort Lauderdale International, Fort Lauderdale Executive and Kendall-Tamiami Executive are all interesting and easy to reach.