Cluj-Napoca International Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: Romania |
| Cluj-Napoca International Airport | |
| Location | Cluj-Napoca, Romania |
| IATA code | CLJ |
| ICAO code | LRCL |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://airportcluj.ro/index.php |
| Overview map | [ ] |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 134.400 |
| Ground | 134.400 |
| Clearance | 134.400 |
| Approach | 125.100 |
| Departure | 125.100 |
| ATIS | 125.525 |
Cluj Napoca International Airport is the third largest in Romania.
It has regular service to Frankfurt, Vienna, Budapest, Bologna, Barcelona, Munchen, Venice, Paris and other major European cities.
Until 2001 work has been done to exdend and upgrade the terminal, the passenger parking, the apron and the runway lighting system.
In the autumn of 2011 the construction of a new runway has started (07-25). It is designed to be a 3500m long runway.
Official Spotting Locations
Location A
The main spotting location (A) is at the intersection of Elicei and Prieteniei streets and the adjacent area. You can see the airplanes landing and taking off on runway 08. The best time of day to take pictures is in in the morning and the early afternoon.
Getting there: Follow Traian Vuia Street from the city center and make a left right before the OMV petrol station. Follow the street until you reach its end. You will be right at the end of the runway. Please park on the dirt road in front without blocking the road.
Visible: Take-offs and landings on RWY 08, also you can see take-offs on RWY 26. Zoom: 18-200mm. Time: early in the morning, 2-3 pm in the summer.
There is no need for a ladder because the fence is low enough.
Aircraft are turning right at the end of the runway and are preparing for take-off very close to the fence. It is recommended that you do not park your cars exactly behind the turning aircraft because the jetblast causes a lot of stones and dust and you might end up with a cracked windshied or in need of a new paint job.
Location B
The secondary spotting location gives you the possibility to shoot late in the afternoon for landings on rwy 08. To get to this location, just follow the dirt road that goes to the other side of the runway and stop at the first left corner. This position is currently hard to reach due to the construction work that is taking place for the new runway (07-25). If you decide to go to this location leave your car parked at Spotting location A.
Visible: Take-offs and landings on RWY 08, also late take-offs on RWY 26. Zoom: 70-300mm. Time: 5-8pm in the summer, 4-6pm autumn.
Other Spotting Locations
You can reach the end of runway 26 by driving towards the exit of the city and parking your car near to the end of the airport. From there you cand walk in the field to the end of the runway. This location is not favoured because a ladder is needed and it is difficult to get to.
Regular Traffic
- TAROM - Romanian Airlines (RO)
- ATR 42-500
- ATR 72-500
- Boeing 737-300
- Boeing 737-700
- Airbus A318
- Lufthansa (Cityline)
- CRJ 700
- Lufthansa operated by Augsburg Airways
- Bombardier Dash 8-400
- Malev
- Bombardier Dash 8-400
- Boeing 737
- Embraer EMB-120ER Brasilia
- Wizzair
- Airbus A320
- Air Max
- Let L-410UVP-E Turbolet
To see the traffic you can expect you can check the arrivals/departures tabel on the airport's website. It shows a daily programme of the scheduled flights (passengers and cargo).
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In the summer there are regular holiday charters which should appear on the airport's website. Regular charter companies are Sky, Air Bucharest, Corendon. You may also see business jets flying in from Bucharest or Europe and air ambulances.
Facilities and Transportation
The city's transportation company (RATUC) has a bus line that runs from the city center (Mihai Viteazul square) to the airport. Get off at the "Aeroport" station.
Also taxis are available and shouldn't be very expensive.