Tucson International Airport
| Continent: North America | Country: United States | Region: Arizona |
| Tucson International Airport | |
| Location | Tucson, Arizona |
| IATA code | KTUS |
| ICAO code | TUS |
| Airport type | Commercial |
| Website | https://www.flytucson.com/ |
| Overview map | Google Maps |
| Communications | |
| Tower | |
| Ground | |
| Clearance | |
| Approach | |
| ATIS | |
| Plane Spotting Hotels guide | |
Tucson International Airport (TUS/KTUS) is a medium-sized airport with 3 runways. The airport is oriented from southeast to northwest along the two main runways 11L/R and 29R/L. A cross runway, 21/3, is located at the northern end of the airport, and is used mainly by GA and bizjets, occasionally by airliners if the winds are strong out of the southwest. The terminal is located midfield along the northeast side, and most of the GA, maintenance, and military facilites are clustered around the northwest end. The airport is quite a distance away from the center of the city, but there are a number of good-quality motels and a few name-brand restaurants nearby.
TUS is located 4 miles south of Interstate Highway 10 and 4 miles east of Interstate Highway 19. If driving from Phoenix, stay on Interstate 10 and take exit 263A - Kino Pkwy South, then follow signs for the airport. The airport entrance is at Tucson Blvd. and Valencia Road, and that is the point of reference for the following spotting descriptions.
Official Spotting Locations
Location
Other Spotting Locations
Flightline Drive
To the right of the main terminal is the Control Tower and Exceutive Terminal. A loop road (turn to the right) overlooks the main runways. All movements can be logged from here and photography is possible although it faces South, making mornings and evenings the best times.
West Apron
Leave the terminal heading West on Valencia Road then turn left 1/4 mile at the stop light. (NB Not the entrance to the ANG base). This is Park Avenue which goes round under the approach to the West Apron. Do not park between the signs on Park. Passing the stored airliners, a left turn leads to the apron which gives views of the runways, the main one being a bit distant. All movements can be seen from here and there are limited photographic opportunities with the sun at your back.
Main Terminal
On the departures level there is a small food court which overlooks the runways.
Just outside the terminal, between the terminal building and the rental car garage, is a small desert garden which overlooks the A concourse. From the terminal, follow signs to rental cars and turn right as soon as you exit the building.
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
Passenger
- Alaska Airlines
- 737-900
- Embraer 175 (Operated by Horizon and SkyWest)
- American Airlines/American Eagle
- 737-800
- A321-200
- A321-200neo
- CRJ-700 (operated by SkyWest)
- Embraer 175 (operated by Envoy)
- Delta Air Lines/Delta Connection
- A220-100
- A321-200
- Embraer 175 (operated by SkyWest)
- Southwest Airlines
- 737-700
- 737-800
- 737 MAX 8
- Sun Country Airlines
- 737-800
- United Airlines/United Express
- 737-800
- A319-100
- CRJ-900 (operated by Mesa)
- Embraer 175 (operated by Mesa and SkyWest)
Cargo
- Air Cargo Carriers
- Short 360
- Ameriflight
- Beech 99
- FedEx
- 767-300