El Paso Intl Airport - Spotting Guide

El Paso Intl Airport – Spotting Guide

August 15, 2023 - last modified on January 3, 2024

El Paso International Airport is located 4 miles northeast from downtown El Paso, TX. It had transported 3,667,439 passengers as of 2022 and 83,438 aircraft operations as of 2021. Most flights in/out of ELP are run by Southwest and the rest by American, United, Alaska, Frontier, Allegiant, and Delta. The cargo carriers DHL, FedEx and UPS are flying frequently to the airport too.

The Airport was first made as a Municipal Airport near East of the Franklin Mountains in 1928 inspired by a visit from Lindbergh. Varney Speed Lines (now United) used to run at the Municipal Airport. The now known as El Paso International Airport was first started in 1929 for mail services. American Airlines switched from the Municipal Airport to the new one and it became known as an international Airport after that. The old Municipal Airport closed in 1945 and became home to Jobe Concrete Products. The present Airport has plans to expand its terminals, make a new radio tower, and upgrade the airport in its 5 year improvement plan. ELP is also the base for the last Super guppy that still flies with NASA.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Zoltan Péter Pásztor and Kostas Tsouris. Last change: December 2023 (Spot 3 and 4 updated)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
04/22	12,010ft – Asphalt
08R/26L	9,025ft – Asphalt
08L/26R	5,493ft – Asphalt
Terminals
Concourse A	Used by American Airlines
Concourse B	Used by Delta, Southwest, Alaska, United, Frontier, and Allegiant
Spotting Information
Ladder	At almost all location a pickup/car trunk or some step stools are recommend except for spot 1 and 6.
Car/Public Transport	Public transport is poor and the car is needed to get a free sight over the fence.
Drinks/Food	No restaurants at any spot, but some supermarkets and similar around.
Hotels	There are hotels near the terminal but no spotter hotels.
Season	Weather is good throughout the year. Summer and Spring with a decent heat haze, but not too much. Fall and Spring have no heat haze, but not too good lighting for RWY 04/22.
Security	Security will get suspicious at spots 2,3 and 5, you should bring ID just in case.
Runway Usage
General Info	The 2 main runways are perpendicular to eachother, one facing the mountain, the other facing towards Mexico. Most planes land on 22 and sometimes also 26L on a normal day. Most planes will depart from 26L, but sometimes 22. Almost no planes land or depart from 08L/26R, but if there is any, they will depart 8L and land 26R. But normally runway 08L/26R is barely used!

	Spot #1 – Carnegie Ave – 26L Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is belongs to some garages at 9701 Carnegie Ave in the final approach towards runway 26L. Once arrived, just drive to the back to the perimeter fence. You may also be able to take pictures from the street directly or other parking lots around here.

WHAT	From here you can spot arrivals on runway 26L.

TIME	You can stay there for the whole day. Only in the summer you get backlit pictures in the evening.

MISC.	This spot is a bit tricky as it is located in a private lot. While the company here has normally no problem with spotters, normal people may approach you here and ask you to leave.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #2 – Shuttle Columbia Dr Parkings – Various Ramps
WHERE	This spot is no exact position either, rather various GAT parking lots turning off South Columbia Dr. Be careful as some of them may be private. But basically just pull onto any parking, head to the fence and leave again. You can choose between the ones along the street easily and we marked some examples on the map where we took pictures from.

WHAT	From here you can see various ramps and aprons. Most stuff will be GA traffic, but sometimes you may also see military aircraft or the Atlantic Aviation MD80s parked here.

TIME	Depends on where you head to and what you wanna shoot. But around noon is best.

MISC.	Ladder is recommended here, but you can also take pics thru the mesh at most spots. Nothing around! Some parking lots or companies may be risky as they will kick you out quickly. So just come quickly for 1-2 minutes and leave again! Behave properly and hide your camera!

FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm

	Spot #3 – Boeing Dr – NASA Super Guppy ramp
WHERE	This spot is basically the fence along Boeing Dr. southeast of the NASA ramp where the Super Guppy is parked often. Get rid of your car nearby and come back here by foot and take your picture somewhere along here thought the fence. At the entrance of the building is a phone which redirects you to a NASA worker. If they have some time they will let you on the ramp.

WHAT	This spot is great for the NASA super guppy ramp. Nothing else really visible or worth to mention here.

TIME	From morning till early afternoon.

MISC.	Ladder is useful, but you can also take a quick picture through the fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

	Spot #4 – Long Term Parking – 08R/26L and taxiway, aprons and concourse B.
WHERE	This location is right next to the terminal on the huge long term parking area of the airport. The usual parking lot is double fenced to the airside. If you approach by car park by the fence and use a car trunk/roof to get above the fence. An alternative is the southeastern corner of the parking lot is the overflow parking which is only opened occasionally. A Pick Up Car is still needed to get over the fence, but the advantage is that you have no double fence here so you need less height to get the only fence out of the picture. There are only 15 parking lots next to the fence so these parking lots get quickly occupied. Walking form the terminal is possible but for the previous mentioned reason a car is recommend.

WHAT	08R/26L movements, charter ramp, some of concourse B and private plane garages all visible.

TIME	You can stay there for the whole day. Only in the summer you get backlit pictures in the evening. Heat waves are not too bad, but kind of in the distance.

MISC.	No food, drinks, or restrooms nearby. Only inside the Airport. Ladder not recommend.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm B738 departure = 270mm

	Spot #5 – Spur Rd – 04/22 movements and taxiway
WHERE	There is a large dirt hill by the roadside of Spur Rd. Park on the side of road and get with a step stool on the hill to see above fence.

WHAT	All movements on 04/22 and the taxiway are visible.

TIME	Best time from afternoon to sunset in the summer. Less light during winter on this side. Heat haze in the distance but not for the runway.

MISC.	No food or drinks near. There are businesses that may let you use their restroom. Police may come. Airport security will get suspicious of you and may ask you questions or tell you to leave.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm

	Spot #6 – Walter Jones Blvd – 04 movements, cargo terminals and taxiway
WHERE	There is a large dirt area in between Liberty Exp Way and Walter Jones Blvd. There are some driveways to enter and park the car. Get on the car trunk or use some step stool to see above fence (not needeed at the northern end).

WHAT	Best when runway 22 is active. Cargo ramp and taxiway are visible too from here.

TIME	Best time from afternoon to sunset in the summer. Less light during winter on this side. Heat haze in the distance but not for the runway.

MISC.	No food, drinks, or restrooms near. No issue with police or security.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-250mm South: MD80 = 90mm North: MD11 = 80mm