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January 1, 2018
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March 11, 2018Gran Canaria, Las Palmas Airport Spotting
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- last modified on November 17, 2022
The airport of the island of Gran Canaria (IATA: LPA; ICAO GCLP), is the most busiest airport of the Canary Islands and handled around 13 million passengers in 2019. It is also called Las Palmas, the capitol city of the island. Many different airlines, especially charter carriers, fly to Gran Canaria from all over Europe, including some interesting airlines which you won’t see anywhere else in Europe, like Mauritania airlines and Binter.
Air Europa, Vueling and Ibera connecting LPA to all major cities on the mainland of spain. Charter airlines serving Gran Canaria are mainly from Scandinavia, Germany and United Kingdom. But there are much much more connecting LPA with the rest of Europe! Beside that, there’s quite a lot of military traffic from the Spanish Air Force aswell!
There is a stored DC7 in Binter Canarias colors at the entrance of the Aeroclub of Gran Canaria, the islands second airport.
As there my be some problems while getting here, THIS site might help you to solve the name struggles.
Written by Mylos Besseling, Jan Seba, Dave Potter and Antonio Rodriquez (providing photos). Last Update: August 2022 (Spot 9 added)
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 03L/21R | 3.100m (10.171ft) |
| 03R/21L | 3.100m (10.171ft) |
| Terminals | One for all operations |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed. At most spotting points you can insert your lens through the fence, at some places there isn’t even a fence. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is not really needed, since all spotting places can be reached by public transport. However, reaching a location by car is much more faster and a car might offer you shadow which is nice in the hot weather conditions. |
| Restrooms | At spots #3 and #5, there are restrooms available. |
| Drinks/Food | There is a supermarket called ‘Spar’ nearby spot #3, where you can buy snacks/drinks. |
| Hotels | There are not that much hotels next to the airport. Most nearest hotels are around 5-10 km away from the airport. You can rent apartments close to Spot #1 at http://www.burreroseasight.webnode.es/ |
| Season | Not really a particular season as weather is pretty steady on the canary islands. There are a bit more charter flights during the summer holiday season in Europe. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 03L/21R | Mainly used for landings |
| 03R/21L | Mainly used for departures, prefered RWY for military |
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Spot #1 – Hill – Arrivals and Line-Up 03L/R |
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| WHERE | This spotting point is located at the end of the road called ‘Calle Fariones’ s at the village of El Burrero, south of the airport. From #3 just continue southwards and follow the signs to (Playa) El Burrero. Pass the Motorway, drive through the village to the beach and from there continue the road up the hill where you can see some lonely houese. There is huge flat area next to some houses with plenty of space. You can park your car right at the street or even drive to the fence. But be aware of disastrous road conditions. If you are using public transport, you have to take bus 85, and go out at ‘Playa Del Burrero’. Then walk the route as shown on the map. If you walk a few meters to the north there is a pedestrian bridge where you can walk up and shot from there too. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 03L and 03R and line-up for departures. |
| TIME | From sunrise till noon during the whole year. In the morning hours there shouldn’t be a problem with the heat for the line-up. |
| MISC. | There’s nothing nearby so bring what you need. Also no shadow at this place. You need to put your camera through the fence but the bars are wide enough as you can see below. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Landings 03L: 767 = 120mm, 737 = 190mm |
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Spot #2 – Approach Path – LineUp 03 and Overhead landings |
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| WHERE | This location is close to spot #1. It’s located close to the road ‘Calle Proa’ and you need to drive straight ahead instead of turning right to #1 and the houses. Its a dirt road and once passed the approach path just park somehwere on the side of the road and walk a few meters to the perimeter fence. You are on an elevated level as the taxiway and so shooting over the fence is possible. If you are using public transport, take bus 85 and go out at ‘Playa del Burrero’. Then walk the red line as shown on the map. |
| WHAT | Perfect for line-up for RWY 03L/R during midday. Overhead landings on runway 03L where you parked your car. You will have a good view on the runway if you want to get centerline shots. |
| TIME | Line-up is from noon when the sun is over the runway until evening. But be aware of heat distortion! Overhead photos especially good during sunrise and sunset. |
| MISC. | There’s nothing nearby so bring with you what you need. Also no shadow available. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A320/B38M = 220mm; A321 = 200mm; A333 = 70mm |
The overhead shots taken where the parking is:
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Spot #3 – BP gas station – Landings/takeoffs runway 03L/R |
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| WHERE | This spotting point is located at the BP gas station in Las Majorera. Use exit 18 from the motorway and drive straight until you see the station. You can park your car at the gas station. From this place you will have a great view, clear view for landings and takeoffs on the southern runways. If you want to reach this point by public transport, take bus 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 19, or 36 and go out at ‘Las Majoreras’. Then walk the route as shown on the map. Be careful, since you have to walk next to a busy road! Alternative is a footbridge just a few meters northwards of the gas station. You are on a higher level and don´t have disturbing buildings in the lower part of your frame. |
| WHAT | Best for landings 03L and 03R. Take-Offs possible but due to the distance and heat it is very tricky. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset during the whole year. |
| MISC. | You can buy snacks and drinks at the gas station. There is a toilet and enough shadow too. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 250mm for A320 |
Taken from the gas station:
Taken from the footbridge:
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Spot #4 – Las Puntillas – Take-offs 21L/R, planes taxiing to 03L/R |
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| WHERE | This location is at the end of the road ‘Calle Estevanez’. From #3 just pass the motorway and go to Calle Estevanez (red line) from there drive to the end of the road. Its a huge flat area and can park your car directly at the location. If you go there by public transport, you can take bus 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 19, and 36, and go out at Cruce Las Puntillas. Then walk the red line as shown on the map. You can take pictures through the fence, and there’s a small hill as well. |
| WHAT | Apron overview, takeoffs 21L/R, planes taxiing to runway 03L/R. You might even see the planes vacating the runway, but for narrow bodies you’ll need a lot of zoom. 90 degree photos on the ground are not possible due to the bushes blocking the sight. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset during the whole year. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, so bring what you need. Not that much shadow at this point. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-400mm. |
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Spot #5 – Beach – landings 21L/R |
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| WHERE | This location is at the beach Playa de Ojos de Garza. Use exit 15 from the motorway and follow the signs to the beach. Park your car at Av. Juan Perez Betancor and then walk the red line as shown on the map till the end of the road. You can either spot from the beach or stay on the terracce of the Bar/Restaurante named “Zurita”. You can reach this location by public transport if you take bus 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 19, or 36, and go out at Cruce del Gando. Then walk the route as shown on the map. |
| WHAT | Landings on runway 21L and 21R. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset during the whole year. |
| MISC. | There’s a bar/restaurant at this location so you can grab a drink or something to eat here. The bar/restaurant is closed on monday. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-300mm |
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Spot #6 – sea – Landings 21R, take offs 21L/R |
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| WHERE | This one is quite a challenge to reach. Take exit 15 from the motorway and take turn left before the military base entrance. You can park your car on the beach near the road called ‘calle virgen del rocio’. Then you have to walk around 350m between the fence and the ocean. Be careful, the track is really small and there are big stones beside you! If you want to reacht this spot by public transport, take bus 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 19, or 36 and follow the red line as shown on the map. There is a fence at this location, but you can stand on the big stones so you’ll have a view over the fence. No shadow available. |
| WHAT | Landings on 21R, takeoffs 21L and 21R. |
| TIME | From sunrise till noon during the whole year. |
| MISC. | Absolutely nothing nearby, so bring with you what you need. WARNING: This spotting location is close to the military base. There is a chance that you will be send away. Don’t photograph military planes from this spotting location! Try not to be prominent. Take the picture, and sit down on the stones directly. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 135mm for a B737 |
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Spot #7 – Roundabout – Landings runway 03L/R |
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| WHERE | From #3 just pass the motorway and park your car at Calle Kent. If you go there by public transport, you can take bus 1, 4, 5, 10, 11, 19, and 36, and go out at Cruce Las Puntillas. Then walk the red line as shown on the map. You can choose your position at the roundabout. |
| WHAT | Landings on 03L/R. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset during the whole year. |
| MISC. | This spot is closer to the runway so heat haze might be less than at spot 3. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200mm for a A320 |
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Spot #8 – Gravel Mount – Landings and Line-Ups Runway 03L/R |
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| WHERE | Same as spot #7. Park at Calle Kent and then walk down the gravel road until you pass a small building. Turn left until you reach the mounts close to the fence. You can move around here to find your preferred position. |
| WHAT | Landings and line ups for runways 03 L and R |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset during the whole year. |
| MISC. | Absolutely nothing nearby, so bring with you what you need. The area looks like private property but there were no issues with security. But it is used also by locals to go the walkies with their dogs. So watch out for the dog poo… |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 125mm for a A320 |
DEC2020 a new house is being build to the right of the spot. Should not disturb the sight of the taxiway and landings.
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Spot #9 – Terminal – Ramp |
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| WHERE | This spot is located inside the departure lounge of the main terminal building in Gran Canaria. The gate area offers floor to ceiling windows with through single double glazed glass. Although note it is tinted. You can only access this area if you are leaving on a flight departing the airport as it is airside beyond the security check point. |
| WHAT | Most civilian movements operating from the terminal. You can select your preferred position and nearly all arriving and departing aircraft will taxi past you. Note this excludes anything parking on the southern remote apron such as the Spanish Coastguard as they tend to vacate early. Also, military movements will not taxi past as they operate on the other side of the airfield. |
| TIME | Light is best in the summer from mid afternoon until sunset. However, you can extend beyond these if you don’t mind nose on/angled phtos. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is in the terminal. Note that you are shooting through glass so be careful of light reflections. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50mm-200mm |
Is there no map for this location?
I have visited the footbridge at spot 4 and the roundabout at spot 7 for two days. There is not much to say about the locations, both are quite okay for landings on 03L/R. Spot 7 is just a pedestrian walk surrounded by a roundabout, a highway exit road and a tiny “forest” and it really feels like this. It is a really weird feeling, you don’t have any privacy. Although those trees created some shade, you needed to cross the street to get there. You can’t get any photos of taxiing planes because of palm trees surrounding the airport fence.
However I don’t wan’t to critizice this spot too much as you are quite close to the planes.
Personally I preferred the footbridge. It is higher and enables somewhat useable taxiway shots. It is also much more private, you can only be seen by highway traffic and traffic on a highway access road. Additionally there were only 20 people crossing the bridge in more than 6 hours. The worst thing about this spot is the distance to the arriving traffic, especially the military traffic using 03R. Another problem about GCLP is the strong wind. It keeps you cool and even the railing of the bridge stayed cool however the gusts were so strong that I sometimes had trouble holding my camera. It also resulted in bad photos.
The traffic itself was very interesting during those two days, while I had a ton of Binter ATRs, many different airlines from around europe, especially from Scandinavia, arrived too. Also some military movements took place. I didn’t experience any problems with police officers, however I didn’t see any either.
(The house which was built in front of the runways is only a few meters tall, the roof is actually below the airport level, it is no problem indeed.)
To conclude, those were some spots I can recommend if you are visiting the island and 03L/03R is in use, which is the case most of the time.
Thanks for reading, best regards.