Did you know Lisbon Airport is spotter friendly? Even though there aren’t official spotting locations. I am here at the Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint to show you why.
Lisbon Portela Airport is Portugal’s busiest. In 2019, it handled 31 million passengers. The Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint offers amazing views. We can watch planes take off and land.
TAP, Portugal’s flag carrier, has a base in Lisbon. Low-cost carriers like easyJet and Ryanair also use it as a base. SATA operates its Airbus fleet from here too. So we are likely to see planes from all of those airlines here at the Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint.
Cargo traffic is common on weekdays. You might see a TNT B737. A Star Air B767, a DHL B757, and a Swiftair ATR could also appear. Military planes often fly on weekdays too.
Lisbon and Porto are the only European destinations for the TAAG B77W. It arrives daily in the morning and evening. TAP is the largest European airline for flights to Brazil. Its long-haul planes are best seen in the early morning and from 3 PM to 4 PM.
Here at the Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint, you might not see all A330s in one day. One operates flights from Porto to Brazil, Venezuela, and the USA. To see the remaining A340s, plan for at least three days. Only one or two fly each day.
The police often patrol the area. They don’t mind spotters if they follow the rules. This Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint is a great place to watch planes.
Runway 02 is usually used for arrivals and departures. Runway 20 is used in bad weather with southern winds. From the Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint, you can see a lot.
To reach this spot, you can walk from Terminal 1. Exit from the departures area. Walk down the street to the roundabout. Take the first right toward Sintra. Walk carefully on the side of the road. It takes about 20 minutes.
Alternatively, take the metro to Campo Grande. From there, walk about 20 minutes to the viewpoint. You can photograph Runway 02 arrivals. Taxiing traffic for departure is partly visible.
To photograph departures, climb the hill behind the gas station. Shoot through the fence. Check FR24 to see when planes are lining up. Move back down after taking photos. Police might ask you to leave if you stay too long. Especially when a flight from Israel arrives.
For arrival photos, stay on the road. Road signs, trees, and the airport fence might block the view. However, there are clear areas for photos.
Remember to bring everything you need. There are no shades or places to sit here at the Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint. The best time is from sunrise to noon for arrivals. Departures depend on the angle and can be longer.
This Aircraft Spotting Viewpoint offers a fantastic experience for plane enthusiasts. Enjoy the planes and the thrill of spotting. Always respect the rules to keep this hobby alive.