Verona Villafranca Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Verona Villafranca Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

November 18, 2021 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Verona airport, named after Valerio Catullo, was born as a military base during the First World War. Subsequently it begins to open to civil flights with daily connections with Rome and charter flights with Northern Europe. In the 1970s, the first accommodation facilities were created in order to help the airport improve following the worldwide growth trend of civil air traffic. With further improvements made in the early 90s and after 2015, traffic reached and exceeded 3 million passengers several times, reaching a record of 3.6 million in 2019.

The airport is located about 10km south-west of the historic center of Verona. Located in a strategic position at the intersection of two of the most important Italian motorways; The A4 Turin-Trieste and the A22 Brennero-Modena. It is possible to reach the terminals by car via the ring road built specifically for the Italy ’90 World Cup. It is also connected to the city center by a shuttle bus service that leaves/arrives at the Verona Porta Nuova train station every 20 minutes during the day.

From a spotteristic point of view, the airport does not have a large number of flights. Few scheduled flights during the year except for the summer when charter flights increase during the holiday period from June until mid-September from/to all the most important holiday destinations. In winter from the end of December until late February, for the ski season in the Trentino Alps, interesting flights can arrive from all over northern Europe and Russia. During the summer, but not only, it is not uncommon for private and business flights to arrive due to the numerous events in the city of Verona.
Airlines that currently fly from/to Verona airport are: Volotea with A319/A320, Neos with B737/B787, AirDolimiti with E195 (are all based here), Alitalia\ITA, Aerlingus, S7, Ryanair, Easyjet, Wizz, Air Albania, Air Moldova, Albastar, Flyone, TUI UK, British and Transavia.

Being also the base of the Terzo Stormo of the Italian Air Force, it is not uncommon to see movements of Italians and foreign military cargo aircraft (KC767, C130, C27J, A400M, AN124 and IL76) and low passages of Tornado and Eurofighters.

The fact that the civil airport coexists with the military does not help the life of the spotters. Photos from spotting points close to the perimeter require authorization and checks by military and civilian police. We advise you to contact one of the local group of spotters (VRN Spotter Group or PSC Piti Spotter Club) for more information and suggestions if you want to take pictures at this airport.

Written by Marco Mochelato – VRNSpotterGroup. Last Update: Michael Lutzenberger (Spot #7) August 2022

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Airport Information
Runways
04/22	3068m (10066ft) Asphalt
Terminals
Terminal 1	For all departures.
Terminal 2	T2 for all arrives. T1 and T2 will be joined at the end of the expansion and modernization works of the airport on the occasion of the Milan-Cortina Olympics in 2026.
Military	Military traffic is managed by the 3rd Stormo with entrance to Caluri village and Apron in the Pantina/Accademia area.
Spotting Information
Ladder	A ladder is required for spotting point 2, 3 and 5.
Car/Public Transport	The car is necessary for all spotting points. Only spotting point 1 is close to the airport and reachable with public transport.
Drinks/Food	Supermarkets, McDonald’s and other restaurants near spotting point 1, 2 and 3. Bar and restaurant of the DB Hotel close to spotting point #6.
Hotels	There are 4 hotels near airport. Star Hotel, AirportHotel Verona and Hotel Veronesi la Torre near spotting point #2 and #3. DB Hotel close to spotting point #6. Some B&B can be also found in the area.
Season	Summer (from June to September) and winter (late December and Jannuary) are good for charter flights. In summer the spotting points 1, 2, and 3 suffer a lot of heat haze in the central hours of the day.
Security	The airport is partly civilian and partly military, so security checks are quite common at spotting points 1, 2, 3, and 5. It is advisable to contact one of the local spotting group VRN Spotter Group, Piti Spotter Club which is authorized to take photos on the airport perimeter so they can help and give you more information. It’s mandatory to wear an high visibilty jacket while standing in the spots near the airport fence. It’s also prohibited to shoot military building in the background Spotting points 4 and 6 are not often subject to security checks.
Runway Usage
04/22	In calm wind conditions, most of the departing aircraft use RWY 22 for take-off, but in case of wind from NE, and sometimes when there is traffic inbound for landind, RWY 04 is used too. Landings are always on RWY 04, except in the case of wind blowing from SW (quite rare).

	Spot #1 – Canalette – RWY 04/22 departures/landings / Taxiway Whisky
WHERE	This is the nearest spotting point to the terminal and pretty close to taxiway Whiskey. To access the spotting point, park the car in the AeroPark situated near the big roundabout (for a fee). Continue on foot for about about 300m. You can also arrive to the spotting point from the airport terminal in around 5 minutes by walk. Ladder is not necessary as you can get on a wall to clear the fence.

WHAT	All movements on RWY 04/22, mind that RWY 04 departures could be a bit high in some cases. Most of the landing traffic vacate the runway using the taxiway W (closer to the spot).

TIME	From sunrise until early afternoon during the summer. Light on aircraft along taxiway W is decent until 3/4pm, and in the winter could be used almost till sunset. Heath haze often became an issue for planes on the runway in the late morning during the summer.

MISC.	Bar and restaurants are in the terminal, 5 minutes walk from the spotting point. There is no shade and in summer is very hot. Bring water, hat and sun protection. Security checks are common here. They could ask you to move away.

FOCAL LENGTH	RWY 04/22 = 90mm for A320/B738, 50mm for a B789, 210mm for a LJ35/C560 Taxiway W = 60mm for A320/B738, around 35mm for a widebody, 130mm for a LJ35/C560

	Spot #2 – Calzoni – RWY 04/22 departures/landings
WHERE	This spotting point is not so far from the previous and it is located in the village from which it takes its name. To reach the spotting point it is necessary park the car in the place indicated for the previous spotting point (Aeropark near the big roundabout). Once there leave the car park turn right and walk to the village. Take the next right and walk on the farm road until the fence.

WHAT	From here you can take the aircraft back in landing from R04 and take-off from R22 or R04. It is possible to photograph the planes during the Taxy for R04 but the distance is remarkable. Don’t modify the fence layout or military may prosecute you and forbid spotting to everyone

TIME	From dawn until noon all year round. Heat haze on the hottest summer days.

MISC.	A ladder is needed. There is a minimarket in the village and McDonald’s and other restaurants within a 5 minute drive from there. There is no shadow except one tree and in summer is very hot. Bring water, hat and sun protection. Security checks are often there.

FOCAL LENGTH	A319=100mm; 752=160mm 18-200 on runway for large subjects (B777/A330). 70-300 on runway for small and medium subjects (B737/A320/ERJ190 and private jets)

	Spot #3 – Torre – RWY 04/22 departures/landings
WHERE	One of the most evocative spotting points in Verona, it is located shortly after the control tower along an unpaved country road wich can be accessed from the nearby village. Slow down and park the car without hindering the agricultural activities.

WHAT	Touchdown from R04 and beautiful takeoffs from R22 with mount Baldo in the background

TIME	From dawn until noon all year round. Heat haze on the hottest summer days.

MISC.	A ladder is needed. McDonald’s and other restaurants within a 5 minute drive from there. There is no shadow and in summer is very hot. Bring water, hat and sun protection. Security checks are often there. Don’t modify the fence layout or military may prosecute you and forbid spotting to everyone

FOCAL LENGTH	B38M=110mm, 789/A333(departure)=60mm 18-200 on runway for large subjects (B777/A330) 70-300 on runway for small and medium subjects (B737/A320/ERJ190 and private jets)

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	Spot #4 – Pescheto – RWY 04 landings
WHERE	It is situated at the end of a unpaved country road that starts to the left of the small church in Caluri. Leave the car in the free parking in front of the church and continue by foot for 350m.

WHAT	Only landings for R04.

TIME	From dawn until noon all year round. Excellent alternative in case of excessive heat in other spotting points or if you have problems with security check.

MISC.	Ladder is not necessary. McDonald’s and other restaurants within a 10 minute drive from there. There is no shadow and in summer is very hot. Bring water, hat and sun protection. No security checks here.

FOCAL LENGTH	A320=130mm; A124=30mm

	Spot #5 – Pantina/Piti Spotting Point – RWY 04/22 departures/landings and taxiway for RWY 04
WHERE	This spotting point is known by the local spotters (known also as Piti Spotting Point) but very far from the Airport terminal and it can only be reached by car following a country road that passes between the small village of Pantina and that of Accademia, near to the military apron. There is a small parking lot for 2-3 cars, next to a farmer where you can stay.

WHAT	Very close to the taxiway Tango often used for taxi from apron to R04. Takeoffs and Touchdowns from R04 and Takeoffs from 22. Don’t modify the fence layout or military may prosecute you and forbid spotting to everyone

TIME	In the summer from 3Pm to till down, heat haze is a problem in the hottest day. Not used in the winter for backlit

MISC.	A ladder is needed. There is no facilities near here. Bring all needed with you. There is a lot of shadow and parking. Military security checks are frequent.

FOCAL LENGTH	Arrival: 789=90mm; 38M=130mm Takeoff: C17=130mm

	Spot #6 – Hill of Q8 Fuel Station – RWY 22 landings
WHERE	Is situated in the north-west part of the airport. Near a fuel station and the DB hotel. There is parking close to the hill which is used for spotting. The easiest way to find it is to start at the terminal and drive northwards on the Strada Provinciale. The spot will pop up on the left after you have passed the approach path of runway 22.

WHAT	All landings on runway 22. Used only in atypical wind conditions.

TIME	In the summer from 3Pm to till down

MISC.	No ladder necessary. Bar\Restaurant\Hotel close to the spotting point in the same area of Fuel gas station.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300 for all landings

	Spot #7 – Terminal First Floor – Apron and Taxiways
WHERE	At the landside end of the check in area in the terminal there is an escalator leading to the first floor to some airline offices. As soon as you reach the first floor you can see a big window front facing the apron.

WHAT	You have a view of the apron and some of the stands. Depending on the parking position aircraft will pass directly in front of you or on the taxiway behind the second row of parking stands and aircraft taxying onto runway 22. Parts of parked aircraft or airport vehicles may impact your shot, e.g. the wing in the first Albawings picture. Aircraft using the parking stands on the southwestern end of the apron won’t pass this spot.

TIME	From sunrise until early afternoon during the summer, almost until sunset in the winter. Heath haze can be an issue for planes on the second taxiway and runway.

MISC.	Everything you need is in the terminal. For longer stops I would advise #1, #2 and #3 over this one as you don’t have to shoot through glass there and won’t miss any movement. But for a quick photo when there is no time to go to the other spots this is a good alternative. It is advisable to keep a low profile though the general public seems to used this spot to watch aircraft.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm First taxiway ~60-85mm (Volotea/Air Moldova) / Second Taxiway ~140mm (Albawings facing right) / Runway 22 ~300mm (Albawings)