Canary’s third busiest airport – Fuerteventura – lives up to its name as strong gustings and stiff gales cater for some compelling adventures! The airport of this fascinating island is mainly headed by holiday charter traffic from France, the UK, Germany and from The Netherlands.

The history of this airport began in 1969 when the airport was opened up, originally built to replace the old military base serving the island for its defensive plan, but which was closed due to its large distance to the capital and bad wind conditions (Offical translation of the Island’s name: Fuerte ventura = strong wind) affecting the air traffic.

A Fokker 50 inaugurated the new airport with domestic services, respectively island hoppers to Fuerteventura’s neighbour islands. Then, in 1973, first international flights were commenced, and a holiday trend was set at the same time! FUE suddenly bursted at all seems as it received more and more passengers. As a consequence of that, the aerodrome was expanded and adopted its today’s shape.

Nowadays, the airport is one of the busiest in Spain, handling 4,200,000 million passengers and more than 35’000 aircraft movements.in 2013. It is a lovely island for tourists and spotters as well and here’s the guide for it!

Written by Marlin/Jonas Lehmann and Nicola von Moos (Spot 9), last update 2017.

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Airport Information
Runways
01/19	3.400m (11,175ft)
Terminals	One for all airlines
Spotting Information
Ladder	At point 6 only.
Car/Public Transport	Car is absolutely necessary.
Restrooms	Available at all publicly accessible buildings like restaurants or inside the terminal building
Drinks/Food	There is a supermarket nearby the airport and food is available inside the airport’s terminals. There are no restaurants outside of the Terminal. Restaurants are available in Puerto del Rosario.
Hotels	Hotels are available in the nearest town (Caleta de Fuste)
Season	The Canary Islands are busiest during the spring/summer season and during winter peak times for the respective countries.
Security	SPOTTING AT SPANISH AIRPORTS IS NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD. ESPECIALLY AT AIRPORTS WITH A MILITARY BASE AS FOR INSTANCE LPA, FUE, XRY OR LEGT. PLEASE BE ALL SET FOR CHECKS BY GUARDIA CIVIL OR POLICÌA LOCAL. LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE ALLOWED TO CHECK YOUR CAMERA AND YOUR SD CARD. TO AVIOD LIKELY TROUBLES OBEY FOLLOWING TIPPS: – STOW CAMERA IN A CAR’S GLOVEBOX WHEN POSSIBLE – KEEP A LOW PROFILE WHEREVER YOU ARE – DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OF RESTRICTED MILITARY AREA OR ANY OTHER MILITARY INSTITUTIONS. THE TEAMS HAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED TROUBLES AND CHECKS BY THE POLICE AT SPANISH AIRPORTS. WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCES.
Runway Usage
01/19	Use of 19 is very rare. 01 is in use almost always.

	Spot #1 – Near the terminal’s bus bay
WHERE	There is a huge unused area next to the terminal’s bus bay which features a small white building, where you can sit down and photograph.
WHAT	Arrivals on 01 when the use the taxiway to the terminal. 01 Departures and 19 Arrivals (heat!)
TIME	From afternoon to sunset in summer.
MISC.	Parking is not allowed on this unused area.
FOCAL LENGTH	Runway operations: B737: 240mm; B757: 190mm, taxiing back to the gate: A320: 160mm; B753: 120mm

FUE Spot 1

FUE Spot 1

FUE Spot 1

FUE Spot 1

FUE Spot 1

FUE Spot 1

	Spot #2 – VIP Apron
WHERE	Spot 2 is located at ‘Terminal de Carga’, accessable through a street running parallel to FV-2. When coming from the airport terminal’s, follow street course until entrance to El Mattoral which begins at a roundabout. Exit the roundabout at its fourth exit (Terminal de Carga – Air Cargo Terminal) and turn off to the left. Now follow the parallel running street until the green cargo building appears on your right.
WHAT	Business jets being parked up at the VIP apron. Runway operations are visible but gear of the airplanes are hidden due to lumpy airfield surface
TIME	From afternoon to sunset in summer.
MISC.	Nothing special to mention at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH	70mm for an E135

	Spot #3 – Line-up runway 01
WHERE	Right under approach path – accessable through an unpaved road snapping off from FV-2. Check map for further details. Spot is located in the S-band before the road goes parallel.
WHAT	Line-up’s onto runway 01. Landing aircraft are passing overhead right above you.
TIME	From sunset until noon in the summer.
MISC.	There are holes in the fence
FOCAL LENGTH	70-30mm – 100mm for an A320; 110mm for a Boeing 737

FUE Spot 3

FUE Spot 3

FUE Spot 3

	Spot #4 – Runway 01 view from ruin
WHERE	This spot is not to be missed as you can clearly recognize a ruin of stones which enables you to look over the airport fence. The ruin is immediately on your right as soon as you are parallel to the runway at the unpaved road as described at Spot 3 and 6. Check the map for further details. Its also possible to go down to the fence where you can shoot through holes in the fence. The red line shows you access route to this spot. Only enter the road with a suitable car for this terrain as set out at the warning label.
WHAT	All runway operations of runway 01. Landing aircraft are still high as the landing zone at FUE begins very late.
TIME	From sunset until noon in the summer.
MISC.	Be careful when climbing up the ruin as the stones are not fix and wobbly.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-400mm – 70mm for a Boeing 757; ATR: 130mm; 80mm for a landing Boeing 757

FUE Spot 4

FUE Spot 4

FUE Spot 4

FUE Spot 4

FUE Spot 4

FUE Spot 4

	Spot #5 – Apron view
WHERE	Spot 5 is located near the entrance to the airfield and in easy walking distance from Spot 1.
WHAT	All apron movements. View may be limited due to parked airplanes at busy peak times.
TIME	From mid-morning to early afternoon
MISC.	You have to take photos thru the fence. A ladder is not advisable as the security service is nearby and keeps an eye onto the airfield entrance.
FOCAL LENGTH	Depends on distance – The Austrian jet was taxiing into a secluded parking position forcing more focal length. But 150mm are required in average.

	Spot #6 – Runway half
WHERE	Follow street course of spot 4 for about 1.7km until a large radar is on your left snapping off to the right. Check map for further details.
WHAT	All runway operations of runway 01/19
TIME	From sunset until noon in the summer.
MISC.	A ladder is required here. Airplanes are very close
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm – 70mm for narrow body sized jets at 90° angle, a Boeing 757 at 55mm

	Spot #7 – Caleta de Fuste
WHERE	You are able to photograph approaching aircraft almost everywhere in this town, it’s best to spot at Av del Castillo, Hotel Castillo Playa or Calle Alcade Juan Evora Suarez as those street offer an undisturbed view onto the approach path.
WHAT	All flight arrivals of runway 01 can be observed from here.
TIME	From sunrise until noon
MISC.	Please note: Airplane height varies from approach path. Different heights are very likely. Some aircraft (depending on ATC’s order) may not pass this point as they’re approaching into a tighter curve.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm – 180mm for a Boeing 737

FUE Spot 7

FUE Spot 7

FUE Spot 7

	Spot #8 – Taxies to runway 01
WHERE	Very close to Spot 2, just follow the street a bit further until you have passed the green cargo terminal.
WHAT	All movements on taxiway and runway can be observed from here. 19 departures may be too high.
TIME	From afternoon to sunset in summer.
MISC.	Heat haze is a massive problem during noon, way better in ‘colder hours’ so towards evening. Photo was taken in the afternoon so heat haze is quite strong.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-30mm – Airbus A319: 175mm

FUE Spot 8

	Spot #9 – Approach Path
WHERE	Coming from the south on the FV2 use the same exit like you did for spot #3 but don’t turn right into the unpaved road. Instead turn left into the road that passes the approach path. Continue for a few meters. From the north just continue on the road from spot#2 that runs along the perimeter. Or from the FV2 use the third exit on the first roundabout after you have passed the terminal.
WHAT	Arrivals on 01 only.
TIME	From afternoon to sunset in summer.
MISC.	Be careful whilst driving here. Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	753 = 100mm; 737 = 150mm

FUE-Spot9

FUE-Spot9

FUE-Spot9