Split (Resnik) Airport served 3.1 Mio. passengers in 2018 and is a really popular place for tourist from all over Europe. The numbers of passengers is growing very fast every year with an increase between 10-20 percent. In the winter the airport is sleeping with just a few flights from Croatia Airlines, but during the Summer season, the airport is crowded with charter flights that fly in the holiday makers.

Most of the traffic is generated by Croatia Airlines, easy Jet and SAS. European charter carriers like Jet2, Lauda, Smartwings, Thomas Cook, TUI, etc. flying to Split. Also low fare airlines like Easyjet, Germanwings, Norwegian, Transavia, Vueling, Volotea are a common sight. European full service airlines serving SPU including Lufthansa, Austrian, Air France, British Airlines, LOT, SAS, Aeroflot. During the summer month there are also a lot of Businessjet movements.

The best time to go for spotting is Juli-September as there are more Charter Flights as well.

Security patrols the airports perimeter! Usually they don´t bother you but if you stand to close to the fence or block a crash gate you can be asked to leave.

Written by Patrick Weis, Zoltan Peter Pasztor and Marijo. Overviews spots 1 & 6 by Stephan Allmers. Last Update: October 2023 – Spot 5

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
05/23	2.550 m (8.366 ft) Concrete
Terminals	Just one for all flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	2-3 steps are necessary at almost all spots. The fence is not high.
Car/Public Transport	Necessary, most of the spots can only be reached by car and you need a ladder as well. Spots 5 is within walking distance to the terminal.
Restrooms	Nothing directly at the spots. Closest one are inside the terminal.
Drinks/Food	There is a Lidl and Kaufland supermarket just five minutes from the terminal where you can buy the stuff which you need for a full day of planespotting.
Hotels	Plenty of small and cheap hotels arround the airport
Season	The best months to travel are during summer as there is not that much rain and most charter traffic.
Runway Usage
05/23	Used in both directions depends on the wind.

	Spot #1 – 23 arrival morning
WHERE	This spot is located on the dust road that is arround the airport fence. To get into this road you have to follow the Cesta Dr. Franje Tudmana from the Airport Terminal and turn left into the dust road when you  see the Hotel Adria on the right site. Park you car at the side of the road in the gravel.
WHAT	This spot is good for aircraft movements on runway 23. Therefore you need a step ladder with at least 2 steps
TIME	Best light conditions are from sunrise-13:00
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal or the restaurants at the main street to the Airport.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

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	Spot #2 – 23 afternoon end of the runway
WHERE	Follow the dustroad from Spot 1 more until you’ve reached the end of the runway 23 and follow the road until your’re on the other side of the Airport. You reached the spot when you’re at the end of the runway.
WHAT	This spot is good for aircraft movements in the afternoon for runway 23. Therefore you need a step ladder with at least 2 steps
TIME	Best light conditions are from 13:00(for turning area)rest 14:30-sunsets
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal or the restaurants at the main street to the Airport
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200

	Spot #3 – Short Final/touchdown runway 23
WHERE	Follow the road from spot 2 a bit more until you’ve got trees to you’re right side as marked on the map.
WHAT	This spot is good for touchdowns or for smaller aircraft on short final. A stepladder is neccesarry with 2 steps.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 14:30-sunset.
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal or the restaurants at the main street to the Airport
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

	Spot #4 – 05 turning area aternoon
WHERE	You’ll find the Spot when you leave the roundabout at the end of the Cesta Dr. Franje Tudmana and turn into the Stara Kaselanska. This spot is located in the Stara Kastelanska cesta at the turning area of runway 05
WHAT	This spot is at the turning bay of runway 05. Therefore you need a step ladder with at least 2 steps
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:00 – sunset
MISC.	The next facilities are at the LIDL and Kaufland supermarkets.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm

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	Spot #5 – Line up and Approach RWY05
WHERE	This spot is located when you follow the Cesta Dr. Franje Tudmana from the terminal and turn right into the first paved street and follow this one as marked on the map. Park your car at the side of the street when you reach the fence of the airport: then position yourself along the fence till up to the crash gate or climb the mound on the other side of the road clearing your view.
WHAT	This spot is on line up and also approach to RWY05 thus also backtracks to 05. You can also see the ramp from the northeastern end of the street.
TIME	Best light conditions are from sunrise-13:00
MISC.	The next facilities are at the LIDL and Kaufland supermarkets. Ladder with 2 steps is needed at the fence directly.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

	Spot #6 – Observation Deck
WHERE	This location is inside the new terminal building on the second floor. Just follow the signs to the official viewing gallery (before security) where you can see all aircraft movements through the window.
WHAT	All movements will pass by either on the taxiway or on the runway.
TIME	Depends a bit on the angle you shot but usually from sunrise-13:00
MISC.	Everything you need within the terminal. Aircraft APU exhaust could be problem.
FOCAL LENGTH	taxing A320/B738 approx 80mm for rwy 120mm.

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	Spot #7 – Mountain
WHERE	This location is a bit more difficult to reach. From the terminal and previous spots drive westwards till the roundabout. Take the first exit and pass the two supermarkets. Pass the next big junction and turn left after approx 500m into a gravel road. This will bring you up the hill. Continue on this road that runs parallel to the coast line until you see a free area to your left. Park wherever you want and start spotting. From the roundabout its a 10 min drive uphill to reach the location
WHAT	From that place you can take 05 arrivals and backtracking for departure as well as 23 takeoffs.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:00 – sunset. Backtracking a bit earlier.
MISC.	There is nothing near by and the road isnt so good but should be no problem.
FOCAL LENGTH	300mm for a B738/A320. Backtracing shoots reqired  about 450mm for B738/A320

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