Exeter Airport - Spotting Guide

Exeter Airport – Spotting Guide

August 2, 2025 - last modified on July 29, 2025

Exeter Airport (IATA EXT, ICAO EGTE) is the primary aviation hub serving Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset from its base at Clyst Honiton, just outside the city centre. It features a single runway (08/26, – 6811ft) and only one terminal which serves all the airlines. Originally opened in the late 1930s, it was taken over by the RAF during WWII before returning back to a civlian used airport.

Flybe once accounted for over 80% of its traffic, peakling at over 1 million passengers in 2007 and again in 2019. The collapse of Flybe in 2020 sharply reduced throughput to only around 148,000 passengers. The airport has since steadily recovered. In 2024, Exeter ranked 26th busiest in the UK with roughly 450,000 passangers and about 23,300 aircraft movements.

Around 8 airlines operate from Exeter, serving roughly 25-26 destinations, including domestic and popular European leisure locations. Some of the major carriers include TUI, Ryanair, Blue Islands, Aer Lingus, Loganair, KLM and Skybus.

Written by Wesley Poxon. Last Update: July 2025

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08/26	2,076m / 6,811ft – Asphalt
Terminals	Terminal 1 used by all airlines
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed
Car/Public Transport	Recommended for getting around to each spot. All the spots are within walking distance from the terminal.
Drinks/Food	There is a Cafe in the terminal and a pub at the end of Clystside Street.
Hotels	There is a Hapmton Inn near the airport but no hotel for spotting.
Season	In summer, TUI and Ryanair operate more destinations for there holiday flights. In winter, they operate alot less.
Security	No issues with security, they welcome spotters.
Runway Usage
08/26	Both directions are used depending on the wind.

	Spot #1 – Car Park 4 – All runway/taxiway movements
WHERE	The spot is in the airports car park 4, which is located on the east side of the terminal along Long Ln. It is standard airport parking, with 30 minutes being for free, anything over you will have to pay. There are a couple free parking areas around the airport if you don’t want to pay to park. There is also a field to the right of the car park, which you can stand in too which offers a similar view, but a better fence that you can fit your camera lens in. In general 4-5 step ladder is recommend to clear the fence. There is a hole in the fence facing the taxiway which can help. It is a 10-12 minute walk from the terminal.

WHAT	You get a view of majority of the airport. You can catch taxi pasts, 08 and 26 movements.

TIME	Winter: runway – all day, taxiway – sunrise till noon. Summer: runway – late morning until afternoon, taxiway – sunrise till noon

MISC.	Closest food is inside the terminal, same with toilets.

FOCAL LENGTH	Runway: 70-300, Taxiway: 15-100

	Spot #2 – Car Park 2 – Taxiway, ramp and 08 movements
WHERE	The airports car park 2 is located along Long ln right next to the terminal and another option to spot from. If driving, you have to pay to park the car in the car park. The car park has recently been extended which allows a much more better view of everything mentioned below. It is a 4-5 minute walk from the terminal.

WHAT	Best option for taxiway and ramp movements. Runway 08 arrivals and departures in the distance but tricky due to the distance and heat distortion.

TIME	Winter: runway and taxiway – all day, ramp – noon till sunset. Summer: runway and taxiway – late morning until afternoon, ramp – sunrise till noon

MISC.	The closest food is inside the terminal, same with toilets. The fence is very high so you have to shoot trough it but the gaps are very narrow! Use a small lens diameter.

FOCAL LENGTH	Runway: 100-300, Taxiway: 30-100, Ramp: 15-70

	Spot #3 – Car Park 3 – All runway/taxiway movements
WHERE	Car Park 3 is the biggest car park at Exeter Airport and next to the pervious car park. 2. If driving, there are a couple free parking spots near Car Park 3 that you can park your car. Or you can pay to park it in the Car Park. It is a 10-12 minute walk from the airport terminal.

WHAT	All movements on the runway, taxiway Bravo and the ramp.

TIME	Winter: runway – all day, taxiway/ramp – noon till sunset. Summer: runway – late morning until afternoon, taxiway/ramp – noon till sunset.

MISC.	Closest food is inside the terminal, same with toilets. No ladder needed as can stand on the wooden fence shown in the photo that elevates you above the fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	Runway: 70-200, Taxiway: 45-130, Ramp: 70-200

	Spot #4 – Roundabout – 08 arrivals
WHERE	This spot is located just on the outside turning access to the airport. If driving, you can park the car by the roadside at Clystside street, and walk 2 minutes to the spot. It is around 15 minutes walk from the airport terminal

WHAT	Runway 08 arrivals only.

TIME	Winter: All day long Summer: late morning until afternoon (move to spot 5 when backlit in the morning and evening)

MISC.	Closest food is the Pub at the end of Clystside street, ‘Duke Of York’. No nearby toilets.

FOCAL LENGTH	130mm B38M, 200mm C68A

	Spot #5 – Field – 08 arrivals
WHERE	This spot is next to a field which is located along Clyst Honiton Bypass. There is a lay by where you can park the car. It is a 20 minute walk from the airport terminal. .

WHAT	Runway 08 arrivals only.

TIME	Summer: mornings and evenings Winter: backlit all time

MISC.	Closest food is the Pub at the end of Clystside street, ‘Duke Of York’. No nearby toilets.

FOCAL LENGTH	75mm 738, 120mm e135

	Spot #6 – Live West – 08 arrivals and departures/line-ups and 26 departures
WHERE	The location is outside of the “Live West” car park on the north side of the airport. Access is from the south side (terminal) via Cyst Honiton Bypass right into Swordfish Ave. After the building turn right and drive till the end of the road. There is some space where you can park the car. From the airport terminal it is a 30 minute walk.

WHAT	Best for arrivals and departures on 08 and line-ups. 26 departures are possible too.

TIME	Summer: early morning and evenings on the runway, line-ups in the early morning Winter: backlit all time

MISC.	Closest food is the Pub at the end of Clystide streed, ‘Duke Of York’. No nearby toilets. 4-5 Step ladder is helpful to clear the fence but shooting though the mesh is possible as well.

FOCAL LENGTH	Line Ups: 100-300mm, Runway: 70-200mm

	Spot #7 – Mound – All runway movements
WHERE	There is a mound on the opposite side of the terminal with a nice view of the entire airport. Access is from the south side (terminal) via Cyst Honiton Bypass right into Swordfish Ave and from there into Spitfire Ave. Park the car in the lay by just outside the entrance to the mound. You have to walk a 5 minutes from the parking from to the spot. From the airport terminal it is a 35 minute walk.

WHAT	All runway movements can be seen as well as the apron in the distance.

TIME	Summer: early morning and evenings on the runway, line-ups in the early morning. Usually no heat distortion. Winter: backlit all time

MISC.	Closest food is the Pub at the end of Clystide streed, ‘Duke Of York’. No nearby toilets.

FOCAL LENGTH	200mm 762, 250mm 738

	Spot #8 – Silver Lane – 26 arrivals
WHERE	From the terminal continue eastwards along Silver Ln for approximate 4km. After you have passed some farms and reached the location there is a little lay by to park the car. It’s a very narrow road! Walking is not really an option.

WHAT	Runway 26 arrivals only.

TIME	Winter: all day long Summer: late morning until afternoon

MISC.	Closest food is inside the terminal, same with toilets.

FOCAL LENGTH	100mm e145, 150mm e55p

	Spot #9 – Silver Lane 2 – 26 arrivals
WHERE	From the terminal continue eastwards along Silver Ln for approximate 3km. After you have passed a farm and reached the location there is a little lay by to park the car. Don’t leave the car unoccupied as it’s an entrance to a field. Walking is not really an option.

WHAT	Runway 26 arrivals only.

TIME	Winter: all day long Summer: late morning until afternoon

MISC.	Closest food is inside the terminal, same with toilets.

FOCAL LENGTH	250mm 762, 400mm atr 72