Dresden Airport (DRS/EDDC), formerly known in German as Flughafen Dresden-Klotzsche, is the International airport of Dresden, the capital of the German Free State of Saxony. The airport is located north of the city centre, 9km away. It was opened to commercial traffic on 11 July 1935. The airport features flights to some European metropolitan and several leisure destinations. In 2019 the airport handled 1,60 Million Passengers.

Dresden Airport handles airlines like Eurowings, Lufthansa, LaudaMotion, Ryanair, Swiss, KLM, Aeroflot and seasonal Corendon, Freebird and Bulgarian Air Charter. SundAir has a base at Dresden with currently two Airbus A320. Dresden Airport is home Elbeflugzeugwerke (EFW), a business unit of EADS/Airbus mainly responsible for freighter aircraft conversion of A330. Since Summer 2013 EADS/EFW began with maintenance duties for several airlines, for example Finnair A330, Brussels Airlines A330, Hifly, Qantas and Air France A380 and some more airlines. In 2021 a cooperation between the EFW and the German Military has started. NH90 helicopter are coming now regulary for maintenance. From 2022 Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and British Airways will come first time with thier A380 for maintenance and cabin modifications, if this airlines continue with Airbus 380 operations.

Written by Martin Rogosz and Carl Antrak (Spot 11). Last Updated June 2025 – Spot 11 added

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
04/22	2850m × 60m Asphalt
Terminals	One for all civil flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Sometimes 3 steps are necessary. See detailed description.
Car/Public Transport	Car is necessary, most of the spots can only be reached by car. Only Spot 1 on the terminal observation deck can be reached by S-Bahn from city center, there is a S-Bahn station at the airport.
Restrooms	Nothing available at the spots except inside the terminal for 1,2 and 9.
Drinks/Food	There are supermarkets around the airport. See map.
Hotels	There are no hotels directly at the airport.
Season	The best months to travel are during summer as there is not that much rain.
Runway Usage
04/22	Used in both directions, mostly RWY22 due to prevailing winds.

	Spot #1 – Terminal Observation deck
WHERE	Inside the terminal on the third level, reach with escelator’s behind the check-in area. Open 24hours.
WHAT	This spot is good for aircraft movements for both runway directions and the taxiway. It is behind glass.
TIME	Best light conditions are from Sunrise-14:30
MISC.	There are facilities inside the terminal
FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm

	Spot #2 – Apron View
WHERE	Outside of the terminal, with view to the apron. When you get out of the terminal turn left. You will then see the windows on the side there and you’ve got the Apron view.
WHAT	This spot is good for aircraft movements to the Gates 31-35, but it is behind glass.
TIME	All day, but depenting on the aircraft angle and position
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-150mm

	Spot #3 – Approach Morning RWY04
WHERE	On sidewalk of Hermann-Reichel-Straße [97], when you coming from the Terminal drive until the highway entrance and make a U-Turn, park your car on next small driveway on right side and walk the 300m under the approach to small area with trees.
WHAT	This spot is on approach to RWY04, ladder not necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from Sunrise-14:30. Backlit in the summer evenings.
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-400mm

	Spot #4 – Approach Evening RWY04
WHERE	Small street in front of the highway exit (coming from Dresden city center). There is a small road along the perimeter. Just park your next to the spot.
WHAT	This spot is on approach to RWY04, ladder not necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:30 – Sunset
MISC.	Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-400mm

	Spot #5 – Line up and Approach RWY04
WHERE	Same way to Spot #4. Park your car there and walk from this position next to the fence until you can see the runway.
WHAT	This spot is on line up and also approach to RWY04, a ladder is necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions for line up from around 14:00 to sunset, Approach from 15:30 to sunset
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-200mm

	Spot #6 – Line up and Approach RWY22 Evening
WHERE	There are two ways: 1) Starting at the airport turn left to the “Grenzstraße” until the end, then turn left and leave Dresden in the direction to Weixdorf. Pass the “Total” petrol station turn the third street left at “Küchenstudio” and drive the street until you can see a big field on the right side and turn the left on the street “Schelsberg” and drive until the fence, you can park at the fence. Now you have to walk down the fence until you like the view on Taxiway/Line up RWY22. 2) Drive the highway 13 to Berlin until highway exit No.22 “Marsdorf” and turn right. Drive the down street (long way) until you are crossing the other highway 4 to Bautzen and turn directly behind the bridge right on a small street until you can see the fence.
WHAT	This spot is on approach and line up to RWY22, a ladder is necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:30 to sunset
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal or at the patrol station and “Kaufland” in Weixdorf.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-250mm

	Spot #7 – Line up and Arrivals RWY22 Morning
WHERE	Turn left from the airport on the street “Grenzstraße” until the end, then turn left and leave Dresden in the direction to Weixdorf. Behind the petrol station turn the third street left at “Küchenstudio” and drive straight on the street until you can see a big field on the right side und turn the left on the street “Schelsberg” and then turn left just next to the car center. Follow the road until the end where you will find the perimeter fence. Walk along the fence to find your prefered position.
WHAT	This spot is on line up to RWY22 and arrivals. A ladder is necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from Sunrise to 15:30
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal or at the patrol station and “Kaufland” in Weixdorf.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-250mm

	Spot #8 – Approach RWY22 Morning
WHERE	Turn left from the airport on the Street “Grenzstraße” until the end, then turn left and leave Dresden in the direction to Weixdorf. Behind the petrol station turn the third street left at “Küchenstudio” and drive the street until you can see the approaching lights of the runway.
WHAT	This spot is on aproach to RWY22, ladder is not necessary
TIME	Best light conditions are from Sunrise-15:30
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal or at the patrol station and “Kaufland” in Weixdorf.
FOCAL LENGTH	60-150mm

	Spot #9 – Terminal Parking Garage – RWY04/22, Apron
WHERE	The spot is directly at the Terminal parking garage. Go up to the highest floor and then to the north side of the garage.
WHAT	Activities RWY22 (but very far) and North Side of Apron 1
TIME	All day, but depenting on the aircraft angle and position
MISC.	There are facilities inside the terminal
FOCAL LENGTH	50-400mm E175 pushback ~160mm;  A340 takeoff ~200mm

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	Spot #10 – Taxiway H
WHERE	The spot is next to the road at the end of the road “Zum Windkanal”.  You can reach it when driving from the terminal in North/Eastern direct on “Grenzstraße” and turn left on “Zum Kraftwerk” follow the street and turn at the following intersection left on “Zur Wetterwarte” and directly next street right and follow to the end. Shortly before reaching it will be to a One-Way street.
WHAT	Activities on taxiway H. Shooting is through the fence.
TIME	From morning until 14:30
MISC.	Nothing nearby
FOCAL LENGTH	80-300mm A380 ~80mm;

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	Spot #11 – P4 Long Term Parking
WHERE	The spot is at the P4 long term parking lot. You can drive with the Bus 77 to Dresden Flughafen West, and then walk round about 5 Minutes. If you want to drive with the car, exactly beside the spot there is the parking area P4 (check the prices on the airport website). From the Terminal to the spot you walk round about 12 Minutes.
WHAT	Best for runway 22 take offs. 04 landings are available too but be aware of heat haze because of the distance. GA ramp can be spotted trough the fence as well.
TIME	Best light conditions are from Sunrise-14:30. Backlit in the summer evenings.
MISC.	Nothing nearby. There is only a snack machine and a Toillet in the Terminal, nothing at the spot. You dont have any problems with Police or Security.
FOCAL LENGTH	Around 200mm for A320/737 departure

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	Spot #12 – Hunters Lookout – All runway movements
WHERE	From the terminal, drive all the way down ‘Herman-Reichelt-Straße’ and then turn right onto ‘Feldstraße’. Just follow this road until you reach the end, where you have to turn right onto ‘Volksdorfer Weg’. Drive down this road until a gravel area where it’s possible to park. From there simply walk along the fence towards runway 22 until you reach a hunters lookout between the trees. You have to climb on top of the lookout to clear the fence. It was build by local plane spotters so do not hesitate to use it. Space is limited on top.
WHAT	Spot is in the middle of the runway so perfect for 22 and 04, doesnt matter which one is in use.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:30 to sunset, probably heat haze could be a small problem in summer.
MISC.	The next facilities are in the terminal or at the patrol station and “Kaufland” in Weixdorf.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

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