Vienna International Airport
| Continent: Europe | Country: Austria |
|
Please note that the use of airband scanners in Austria is illegal. |
| Vienna International Airport | |
| Location | Schwechat, Austria |
| IATA code | VIE |
| ICAO code | LOWW |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | http://www.viennaairport.at |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | 119.40 |
| Ground | 121.60 |
| Clearance | 122.12 |
| Approach | 128.20 (Radar) 119.80 (Director) |
| Departure | 128.20 |
| ATIS | |
| Plane Spotting Hotels guide | |
Vienna International Airport is the primary airport of Austria. It's the hub of the Austrian Airlines Group.
Official Spotting Locations
On the top of Terminal 3 is a large spotting platform, which is operated by the airport itself. To get there you have to buy a ticket (about 4 euros) and pass a security check. From there you can spot the traffic of both runways and the majority of the airside area. The entry is in Terminal 3.
Other Spotting Locations
The Spots are marked either in the Satellite Photo or in the Map with the corresponding numbers. In the Satellite Photo the places where you can leave your car are marked with black dots, because on all the roads around the airport driving is forbidden.
The only spots reachable by car without any walking are 2, 4, and 5. The spots reachable from the terminal by feet are 2, 3, 4 and within a 10 minute walk you can reach spot 5 but you have to walk along a road with much traffic. For all the other spots have a car and be prepared to walk between 10 and 45 minutes. All the descriptions are starting at the airport.
Please note that the use of airband scanners in Austria is illegal
Spot 1
Follow the road signs towards "Wien". But make sure not to use the motorway A4 (Look out for road signs pointing towards the city of "Schwechat"). At the airport exit (Which is a "T" shaped crossing) make a left and follow the street. At the second traffic light turn left and park your car there. Then walk towards the runway. Shortly before you reach the airport fence make a left and follow the path which ends at the fence around the Austrian Airlines Maintenance Area. There you can take photos of the aircraft entering or leaving the area or being parked in front of the hangars. Be aware that the fence has very small holes. The sun is in your back in the afternoon.
Spot 2
Follow the signs to parking area P3, you can reach it either by car or by feet. Go up to the 5th floor and you get an overview of the western apron area and the western gates of the "Pier West". During the week you can see the cargo planes of TNT, UPS and DHL parking there for the day. If you want to make photos of them be sure to go there before noon. The rest of the day you're facing the sun. The view is unrestricted because there are no windows or fences.
Spot 3
Inside the terminal go to the departure level of Terminal 2. Follow the signs to Restaurant "International Marketplace" or Cafe, Bar, Restaurant "Balloon". The "International Marketplace" is a self service restaurant where you get an overview of the apron area between "Pier East" and "Pier West". The windows are unfortunately (for photographers) coloured. The same applies for the restaurant "Balloon" which is a restaurant with service. When you have a boarding pass you can make photos through the windows of the terminal.
Spot 4
Follow the signs to parking Area P4. You can reach it either by car or by foot. Go up to the 8th floor. From there you get an overview of the eastern apron. For pictures with the sun in your back of aircraft parked there, approaching Rwy. 16 or taxiing towards departure from Rwy. 16 this spot is good in the afternoon. You can also take pictures of Widebodies taking off off From Rwy. 34, but narrowbodies will be too high.
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
- Airliners.net sample photo: medium large
For pictures of aircraft taxiing along or using Rwy. 11/29 you're facing the sun. The view is unrestricted because there are no fences or windows.
Spot 5
Follow the road signs towards "Wien". But make sure not to use the motorway A4 (Look out for road signs pointing towards the city of "Fischamend" and "Bratislava"). At the airport exit (Which is a "T" shaped crossing) make a right. Drive about 300 meters until you can see a bridge crossing the street where you are driving. Shortly before the bridge you can park on the right hand side. This spot is good in the afternoon for approach photos of planes landing on Rwy. 16.
Spot 6
Follow the road signs towards "Wien". But make sure not to use the motorway A4 (Look out for road signs pointing towards the city of "Fischamend" and "Bratislava"). At the airport exit (Which is a "T" shaped crossing) make a right. Drive until there's a speed limitation (70 km per hour). This limitation covers a "T" shaped crossing where you have to go right. You're now in an industrial area. Follow the road until it ends in a (you guess it) "T" shaped crossing. There you make a right and follow the road until you see a bridge crossing the railroad to your left hand side. Then it's time to leave your car and do some exercise. Walk about 5 minutes following the road which crosses the railroad. You can take photos through the fence
(it has holes where a lens should fit through), or you can climb up the small hill and make photos. In terms of light conditions this spot is good before noon for takeoffs and landings on Rwy. 16.
Spot 7
Follow the road signs towards "Wien". But make sure not to use the motorway A4 (Look out for road signs pointing towards the city of "Fischamend" and "Bratislava"). At the airport exit (Which is a "T" shaped crossing) make a right. Follow the road until you reach the Village of "Fischamend". In the village look carefully for roadsigns pointing towards "Kl. Neusiedl" and "Schwadorf" (and for cops measuring the speed you're driving :-) ). Make a right there. Follow the road and you'll see a small castle on the left hand side, followed by an industrial area also on the left. Shortly before you reach the village of "Klein Neusiedl" there's a small road on the right hand side which crosses the railway. Enter this road and after crossing the railway there's a "Y" shaped crossing. Leave your car there and follow the right road until you reach the airport fence. You'll have to walk approximately 10 minutes. This spot is suitable for takeoff and landings on Rwy. 16/34 before noon,
and for landings at Rwy. 29
after appr. 09:00 A.M. The fence has holes where a lens should fit through.
Spot 8
There are 2 different ways to get there.
- Follow the description for Spot 7. When you've reached the airport fence make a left and walk along the fence.
- Follow the road signs towards "Wien". But make sure not to use the motorway A4 (Look out for road signs pointing towards the city of "Fischamend" and "Bratislava"). At the airport exit (Which is a "T" shaped crossing) make a right. Follow the road until you reach the Village of "Fischamend". In the village look carefully for roadsigns pointing towards "Kl. Neusiedl" and "Schwadorf" (and for cops measuring the speed you're driving :-) ). Make a right there. Follow the road and you'll see a small castle on the left hand side, followed by an industrial area also on the left. In the village of "Klein Neusiedl" you'll pass a church on the left hand side of the road. Look out for a one story high yellow building on the left hand side. At the end of this building there's a "T" shaped crossing where you have to make a right turn. Note: There's a little cafe on the right hand side of the Main Street just after the crossing. If you pass this you're too far. Follow the small road across the railway (be aware there's a STOP sign) until you see the sign which says "Driving forbidden". Park you car there and follow the road by feet. After about 5 minutes you'll reach the airport fence.
The holes there have a suitable size for a lens. This spot is good for takeoff and landings on Rwy. 16/34 before noon.
Spots 9 and 10
Follow the road signs towards "Wien". But make sure not to use the motorway A4 (Look out for road signs pointing towards the city of "Fischamend" and "Bratislava"). At the airport exit (Which is a "T" shaped crossing) make a right. Follow the road until you reach the Village of "Fischamend". In the village look carefully for roadsigns pointing towards "Kl. Neusiedl" and "Schwadorf" (and for cops measuring the speed you're driving :-) ). Make a right there. Follow the road and you'll see a small castle on the left hand side, followed by an industrial area also on the left. Then you'll reach the village of "Klein Neusiedl". Drive through and after the village theres a "Y" shaped crossing, take the road that's leading to the right hand side. On your right hand side you can see the airport fence. Follow the road you're on until you come to a traffic light in the village of "Schawdorf". Make a right there, take a look at you mileage counter and and leave the village following the main road. Approximately 2.0 kilometers further down this road there's small road that leads into the fields on your right hand side. This is the road you should walk in. Park your car anywhere where you find a suitable place but be sure not to block any access to the fields for the farmers. Follow the road by feet until you reach the airport fence. Make a right there and you have reached spot number 10. Follow the road back along the fence and you'll reach number 9. It's about 30 minutes to walk and both spots are good for pictures in the afternoon of aircraft landing at Rwy. 34 and for aircraft taxiing for departure from 34 or for some aircraft which are landing at Rwy. 16 and leaving the runway by using the Taxiway right in front of
you for taxiing to the terminal.
The holes in the fence have a size suitable for a lens.
Spot 11
The driving instructions are the same as above, also the walking is the same, but a little bit further. When you have reached the airport fence make a left and follow the road which gets unpaved there. The airport fence leaves the road to your right hand side, follow the road until you reach the first row of trees which leads towards the fence. leave the road and follow the trees until you are at the fence, and you're there. Walking time from your car is about 40 - 45 minutes. This spot is good for line-Ups at Rwy. 29 after 09:00 A.M.
and for pictures of aircraft landing at Rwy. 16 or taxiing to the terminal
after landing at rwy. 16 or 34 in the afternoon.
Spot 12
The driving instructions from Spots 9 and 10 apply also to this one. but you have to follow the road after leaving the village of "Schwadorf" a little bit longer. A little bit longer means approximately 6,7 kilometers after turning right at the traffic light in "Schwadorf". On your way there are two speed limitations for 70 km per hour. After the second one look out for a "X" shaped crossing, and park your car there. Take the unpaved road to your right and follow this road until the second crossing with a unpaved road. make a right there and follow your "nose" to reach the fence. This spot is good for Takeoffs from 29
and for landings at 11 after 09:00 A.M.
but the holes in the fence could be a problem for big lenses.
Spots not indicated on the map
Spot 8A and 9A
Driving instructions like Spot 8 but don't make the right in "Klein Neusiedl". Follow the road, leave the village, see the airport fence to your right and watch for a little factory on your left. Make a left into the road after the factory and you have reached spot 8A which is good for approach pictures for Rwy. 34 in the afternoon.
For spot 9A you have to walk along the airport fence (no path or road there) and look for a suitable position. This one is also good for approaches towards 34 in the afternoon.
Spot 12A
Driving instructions for spot 12 apply also for this one, also do the walking instructions but instead of making the right on the second unpaved road. Instead of this follow the unpaved road you're on until you reach the fence where you have an overlook of Rwy. 11/29. Its good in the afternoon for pictures of widebodies like this one.
Locations to Avoid
Regular Traffic
- Asiana Airlines - B747-400F (Cargo)
- China Airlines - A340-300 and B747-400F (Cargo)
- Delta Airlines - B767-300
- Emirates - A330-200
- EVA Air - A330-200 and MD11 (Cargo)
- Korean Air - B747-400F (Cargo)
Facilities and Transportation
- City Airport Train, in 16 minutes from Landstrasse (near the city centre) direct to the terminal for about 9€
- Vienna Airport Bus from the centre or west-and southstation in 45 minutes to the terminal (6€)