Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte International or also known as Campo dell’Orro Airport (AJA/LFKJ) is one of the busiest airports on the island of Corsica with about 1,5 passengers a year. The airport was opened in 1940, is named after the – you may have guessed it already – famous son of the island and city Napoleon Bonaparte and is located 5km east of Ajaccio itsself.

AJA is highly depending on the summer holiday season as it is a a seasonal charter flight destination. The busiest day in the summer season is always the saturday, where flights from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Scandinavia and the UK arrive. On other days, there will be more domestic traffic, operated by Air France, HOP!, Volotea and last but not least Air Corsica – the local airline of the island has its HQ as well as a maintenance hall here. There are also a few scheduled cargo flights, which are all operated by ASL Airlines France. Sometimes French Air Force is flying some Touch and Go’s during their training sessions as Solenzara Air Base is nearby (just accross the isle on its eastern coast). In summer you may also see some firegihting CL415 flying out/in here at AJA.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Erik Loose, Romain Roux, Laurens Dolmans and Erik Lukeš. Last change: Aug 2022 (Spot 4 updated)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
02/20	2407m – 7897ft
Terminals
T1	Only one terminal handling all passenger services.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Recommended for spots 3,4 and 6. But a small 2-3 step ladder is absolutely fine.
Car/Public Transport	Car needed as soon as you wanna use all spots except 2,3 and 5. However, the distances are not too big and the traffic is quiet so you can also walk in the calm times between the spots.
Drinks/Food	There are some facilities next to the terminal only but plenty in Ajaccio itsself.
Hotels	There are plenty on the island of Corsica but none directly here.
Season	Summer is way better regarding amount of sunshine as well as holiday charters. In winter you have only 2-3 various airlines here, in summer you can have up to 12-15 different a week.
Runway Usage
General Info	Single runway operations, 20 movements are more common.

	Spot #1 – Southern Runwayhead – 02/20 movements
WHERE	Located on the beach next to the airport so just follow the signs to it. You can park your car on a parking lot alongside the street „Route de Campo Dell Oro“. From there you’ll have to walk about 600 meters to the location (depends on where exactly you park). If travelling with public transport, the Bus station of the Airport Terminal is 1 km away from the spot.
WHAT	You can take pictures of all Runway 02 arrivals and all movements on Taxiway A, which includes line-ups and take-offs from Runway 02. You can also spot aircraft vacating after 20 arrival.
TIME	You can easily walk along the fence and thus switch sides here. Thereby this spot is actually useable all day.
MISC.	There are no restrooms nearby. The next shop/restaurant will be inside the terminal, so bring everything you need with you. You can also take a swim, the water is very inviting during summer season. No ladder needed, you can just climb on the big rocks and take your pictures over the very low wire fence. For all the video-makers out there: You can also put your tripod on one of the rocks, they are big enough.
FOCAL LENGTH	15-100mm

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	Spot #2 – The Beach – 20 Departures + 02 Arrivals
WHERE	Same as for Spot #1. You can walk up and down the beach for your prefered angle.
WHAT	You can take pictures of all Runway 20 departures, once they are airborne. It’s also possible to spot the incoming arrivals on Runway 02 when they are on the approach path, but the Runway itself is not visible!
TIME	From later noon/early afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	There are no restrooms nearby. The next shop/restaurant will be inside the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	Depends on your exact position, 150-400mm

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	Spot #3 – Corse Helicopter – GA Apron
WHERE	This spot can be found inside the GA/Cargo area just next to the “Corse Helicoptre” hall (either north or south). Just park your car nearby by the roadside, position yourself along the fence and quickly make your pictures. You can also park at spot #1/2.
WHAT	From here you can nicely see the GA apron in front.
TIME	Depends on the exact angle, but best time should be from around later noon/early afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	Haze may be an issue. Mostly only static shots here so shooting thru the mesh will aslo work, but maybe a small object useful to clear the fence. You may be sent away by the companies/security if GA/VIP do not wanna be photgraphed.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-400mm Beech B200 = 360mm

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	Spot #4 – Private Road – 02/20 movements
WHERE	Turn off T21 at the big roundabout south of the train station into an unnamed road leaving the roundabout at its southwestern side. Take this little road (shown on the overview below) till you end up along the fence. Actually you pass a gate on your way and are on kind of private property then. You can drive with car on the private road (marked with yellow arrow) until you reach a small gate. Park your car next before the gate by the roadside. Then walk through the gate further 200m to the final position. (People working there will close the gate in the evening after finishing work. So, if the gate is closed you only have to climb over the gate) Spot can be reached by public transport as well quite well as the train station is just a few hundred meters away next to the roundabout.
WHAT	From here you can see all movements on runway 02/20.
TIME	From later noon/early afternoon till sunset. Keep in mind that the big trees next to the spot shadow the taxiway quite fast and a while before the sun really set.
MISC.	Do not block the street/gate with your car. Ladder or similar small object recommended in order to able to clear one’s view. Workers are fine with spotters and there are no negative reports. Haze may be an issue on hot days.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm A320 taxiway = 70mm / A320 runway = 200mm

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	Spot #5 – Walkway – 20 Arrivals + 02 Departures
WHERE	This spot is directly at a roundabout of T40, northwest of the airport on a small lay by. Parking your car is tricky here but there should be space for 2 cars directly at the spot. There are some stones where you can climb up to clear the fence in the distance for ground shots.
WHAT	Here you can see all arrivals and departures on runway 20 plus maybe also low 02 departures.
TIME	From later noon/early afternoon till sunset. Be aware of heat distortion, especially in the early afternoon!
MISC.	Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm E190 ~150mm

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	Spot #6 – Fencekink – 02/20 movements
WHERE	Turn off T40 a bit off airportboundery in the west where it bumps into D3. Leave the roundabout to the west into an unnamed road leading to the west along the T40 towards the airport. You will somewhen end up at the fence, where you can freely position yourself along after stopping your car by the roadside simply.
WHAT	From here you can see all movements on runway 02/20.
TIME	Sunrise till noon.
MISC.	Nothing around, do not block the street/gate with your car. Ladder or similar small object recommended in order to able to clear one’s view. Haze may be an issue on hot days.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm B738 runway = 90mm

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