Dublin Airport, (Irish: Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath) (IATA: DUB, ICAO: EIDW), is an international airport serving Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. The airport is located 5.4 nmi (10.0 km; 6.2 mi) north of Dublin in Collinstown, County Fingal. In 2018, over 31,5 million passengers passed through the airport making it the airport’s busiest year on record. It is also the busiest of the state’s airports by total passenger traffic. It also has the greatest traffic levels on the island of Ireland followed by Belfast International Airport, County Antrim.

The airport has an extensive short and medium haul network, served by an array of carriers as well as some intercontinental routes focused in the Middle East and North America. It serves as the headquarters of Ireland’s flag carrier – Aer Lingus, regional airline Stobart Air, Europe’s largest low­cost carrier – Ryanair, ASL Airlines Ireland, together with a fifth airline, CityJet, which does not maintain major operations here. United States border preclearance services are available at the airport for US­ bound passengers. Shannon Airport is the only other airport in Europe to offer this facility.

Written by Peter Adams,  Alberto J. Sierra D., Thomas Okaty, Mick Barry  and Jan Seba. Last Change: October 2022 (new runway, Spot 7 and 8 added)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10R/28L	2.637 m (8.652 ft)
10L/28R	3,660 m (12,008 ft)
16/34	2,072 m (6,798 ft)
Terminals
Terminal 1	WestJet, Vueling, Cobalt Air, Ethiopian, ASL Airlines, Arkia, Air Transat, Air Canada Rouge, etc.
Terminal 2	United, Etihad, Emirates, Delta, American, & Aer Lingus
Spotting Information
Ladder	Necessary at the part of spot 2 (line-up at the fence) and highly recommended at the mounds (Spot 2 & 4) to avoid the fence in your pictures for heavies.
Car/Public Transport	A car is recommend to get around the airport, but you can also use the airport buses and walk to get to most of the spots, so it is not absolutely required.
Restrooms	Only at the terminal. Nothing at the spots.
Drinks/Food	In the airport and around the airport there is petrol station and fast food places.
Hotels	Around the airport there are hotels but very expensive.
Season	Best in autumn or spring as the weather will be a bit better. The weather is best in summer, but the high sun altitude might be disturbing.
Runway Usage
General Info	During westerly operations and if both runways are fully operational: Departures: 28R Arrivals: 28LDuring easterly operations and if both runways are fully operational: Departures: 10R Arrivals: 10L
10R/28L	Mainly used for 10R departures or 28L arrivals.
10L/28R	New runway which opened August 28th 2022. Currently in operation from 07:00 to 23:00 each day. Mainly used for 10L arrivals or 28R departures.
16/34	Crosswind runway which is barely in use!

	Spot #1 – ILS Lights – 28L arrivals
WHERE	Follow the road from the terminal past T2, pass the traffic lights then there’s a side walk you can follow. This spot is 15 mins walk from the main terminal till you will see the fence and ILS lights on your right hand side.
WHAT	Runway 28L arrivals.
TIME	Morning and afternoon but mostly AM arrivals until about 0930 am stick on the terminal side for AM arrivals then go over other side runway for after 0930 the light moves round so its good.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-200 mm

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	Spot #2 – The Mound – 28 Movements
WHERE	This is Dublin’s most famous spot. From spot 1 follow the road that runs with the perimeter fence. Then across the road there’s a car park with a raised up mound. From here you can positions yourself on different points.
WHAT	Runway 28L landings and line up. In the morning and when the sun is not completely moved behind the runway you can position yourself more to the east for the line-ups when the planes make the right turn onto the runway. You should have a 3-step ladder to shoot between the fence and the barbed wire. For the line-ups on the mound we also recommend 2-3 steps to avoid parts of the fence in your picture for the long heavies like the A333 or 77W. Narrowbodies are fine without one.
TIME	From 0930 am until late afternoon. In winter all day long.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you. Also the road you follow its dangerous to walk a lot of bad drivers use the road so walk with care. Also at this spot there is no shelter when it rains so you end up being soaked.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-300 mm

Pictures taken from the major eastern position with a ladder

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	Spot #3 – Parking Lot Entrance – All 10R/28L movements
WHERE	The Spot is next to the Blue Car park along the road next to the R108. Follow the Old AIrport road from the mound until you reach some traffic lights. Then take 1st right and follow the road along and the spots next to the Blue Car Park entrance where you can park your car. From the terminal there’s a free Blue Car park bus you can take then a few minutes walk by foot. Sometimes we receive experiences, that this bus isn’t for “everybody” and the driver won’t let you go with the bus, but we already heard (too), that they will let you drive with the bus although you are not entitled, too.
WHAT	Best for runway 28L rotation shots but in general all can be photographed from here.
TIME	From 0930 am until late afternoon. In winter all day long.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200 mm

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	Spot #4 – Parking Lot Entrance – 10R Movements
WHERE	Its a 5 minutes walk from the last spot at the end of the grass embankment. The Blue Car park bus from the terminals also can be used for this spot. Sometimes we receive experiences, that this bus isn’t for “everybody” and the driver won’t let you go with the bus, but we already heard (too), that they will let you drive with the bus although you are not entitled, too.
WHAT	Runway 10R line-ups and landing shots.
TIME	From 0930 am until late afternoon. In winter all day long..
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-200 depending on motive

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	Spot #5 – Gate – 10R Movements
WHERE	Its located in the northern side of the 10R/28L runway in he road R108. Park your car on the grass along the road. Parking in front of a gate is no longer possible. To access the point simply go through the fence (there is a hole) and climb the small hill from behind.
WHAT	Taxing, Taking Off and Landings in Runway 10R, morning humidity can create nice condensations. Well, I think in Dublin you can see condensations all day long on a wet day. Its possible to catch planes taxing to the 10R Runway and taking very good close ups to them, even got few pilots waving to me.
TIME	This is a summer spot only! In the winter you have backlit the whole day. The spot is recommended for use when runway 10R is active in the morning hours or late evening.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby. Be careful as its Ireland and rains a lot so it can be very slippery and although the climb is short its very steep.
FOCAL LENGTH	18/200 lens. Lower length for taxiway even 70mm is too much for an ATR.

	Spot #6 – Perimeter Fence – 16 arrivals
WHERE	This spot can only be reached by car. From spot 4 take R108 westbound until it merges with R122, then follow the road northbound towards the town of Swords. Alternatively, coming from the airport take R132 northbound towards Swords, then turn left onto L2020/Naul Rd towards Naul in the next roundabout. As soon as you have arrived in the approach zone of runway 16 find a spot to park your car along the road (L3132/new R108), for instance in the gateway west of the roundabout, which blocks the now closed old R108.
WHAT	From here you can photograph 16 arrivals.
TIME	Technically you can stay here all day. In the morning you can catch arrivals from east of the roundabout. At around 1100 am move to a spot along the road west of the roundabout/runway approach zone.
MISC.	There is nothing nearby, so take what you need with you and also very hard to get to without transport. Currently no ladder needed for planes on the ground (line-ups) as the temporary fence, which has been put up due to the construction for the new runway, is low enough to shoot over it.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300 mm

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	Spot #7 – Crash Gate – 10L arrivals
WHERE	The spot is located close to the junction of R108 with L3132 at a crash gate. Turn into the R108 and look for a place to park on the side of the road but do not block the emergency gate.
WHAT	10L arrivals only, touchdowns are not visible from this spot.
TIME	From 0930 am until late afternoon. In winter all day long..
MISC.	There is nothing here so be sure to bring everything you need. There is no public transport and walking is not really an option. A ladder is not required here.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200 mm A320=150mm

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	Spot #8 – Crash Gate – 10L arrivals
WHERE	A car is required as there is no public transport and it not within walking distance. Continue along the R108 from spot 7. Inside the fence is a long blast shield with a break about half along the road. opposite the break in the blast shield is a small mound. This is spot A. A ladder is not essential as all but the heaviest will be clear of the fence. Parking is not a problem as this road is not busy and it possible to park on the verge. To reach spot B, continue on along the R108 until you reach the entrance to the runway works site on your right hand side. This would be the spot favoured by local spotters for 28R departures. There is a low mound running alongside the road where you can pick your position. It is OK to park on the verge. A ladder is recommended but not essential (Play A320 below taken without a ladder). A car is required as there is no public transport and it would be a very long walk.
WHAT	Until the runway enters full service in 2023 this location is for rotating departures on 28R.  Most medium and heavy aircraft should have cleared the fence at spot A but most biz will be quite high at this point. From spot B, good rotation shots are available.
TIME	From 0930 am until late afternoon. In winter all day long (currently the runway is only in operation from 9am to 1pm each day mainly in use for departures 28R)
MISC.	This road is very quite so it is unlikely you will get any vehicles blocking your view but there are no facilities available so take what you need with you.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-200 mm Spot A: B777- 100mm; A319 – 300mm Spot B: PAL B737 160mm; American B777 – 100mm; Play A320 -120mm

Position A:

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Position B:

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