Milos Airport - Spotting Guide

Milos Airport – Spotting Guide

October 20, 2020 - last modified on November 21, 2023

Milos Island National Airport (MLO/LGML) is a very small airport on the island of Milos. The airport was built in the early 1970s and opened in January 1973. Since then, the traffic numbers increased quite a bit and today MLO handles almost 80.000 passenger a year – trend: increasing. However, the only regular services at Milos are ATR flights to Athen operated by Olympic Air and Sky Express. The airport was meant to be expanded in the 2000s, but due to the several crisis and financial problems, plans were postponed and the airport is still only able to handle smaller aircraft in its terminal built in 1995. The apron is thus still only offering two light aircraft and one Dash 8/ATR space at a time, so you can imagine how small everything is here…
However, you also have some unregular business jets coming in here, but the real plus point at Milos is the breathtaking location with the nice background scenery and the easy way of spotting here.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Maël Robin and Mattia De Bon. Last Update: Summer 2020

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08/26	1030m / 3380ft – Asphalt
Terminals
Terminal 1	There is only one terminal here, which handles all flights.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed as there is either no fence or you can easily shoot over/thru.
Car/Public Transport	Nothing possible without. Long, unwalkable routes and no public transport. However we don’t even recommend big cars here. Rather quads as the streets are very bumpy and thus car is not the best, but better than nothing for sure.
Restrooms	Absolutely nothing around here.
Drinks/Food	You can find stuff in the guesthouses/hotels by the coastline or in Zefiria itsself with its shops, hotels and restaurants.
Hotels	No big hotel housings around here, but some smaller facilities and guesthouses by the coastline or in Zefiria itsself.
Season	Summer is definitely better due to more movements. Winter has poor weather and very few movements only.
Security	Greece people and airports do not like us spotters, so keep a low profile and don’t attract attention.
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 08/26 is mostly used in the directions the aircraft need so according to their flying direction. The rule of the shortest way applies great here as wind is rarely a reason for runway direction, because it is quite calm here.

	Spot #1 – Western runway head west – Runway 08/26 movements
WHERE	This spot can be found in the west of the airport just along the southern fence. In order to get here, make your way to the hotels along the beachfront and just a bit more than 100m south of “Akrothalassia Hotel Milos”, turn to the east into a small dirty road. Follow this one and it will lead you to the fence. Just there you will find yourself at a 4-road-junction, which you have to leave to the east again. Then just keep going and after a few meters you will see the runway on the left. Then just search your favourite position along the fence around here…

WHAT	From here you have a nice view onto 26 departures as well as 08 arrivals and backtracks prior 08 departure. In the background you can also see the apron nicely.

TIME	Actually late morning till afternoon, but thanks to the turning pad backtracks and turning aircraft can still be shot till the evening.

MISC.	Don’t go here with a nice car as it’s a small and shitty road, so you may destroy it. Rather come by scoot/quad like we did and had good experiences only. Nothing around, take water and all other stuff with you. The hotels by the coastline in the west are the closest locations with facilities. Ladder needed in order to be able to shoot over the fence here. As always in these areas, heat haze can be a problem as well as high grass.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm Turning ATR on runway = 85mm

	Spot #2 – Runway Mid – All 08/26 movements
WHERE	In the east of the airfield this time, there is a small farmer path running along the airport property’s edge. Just make your way to the city centre of the village of Zerfiria and then a bit south of the major junction, you will find a small road running between fields to the west (marked on the map exactly). Take this one as it will lead you to the the spot #3, but then keep going on the little farmer road along the airport’s southern barrier. Pass a construction company on your left and few dozens of meters after the street starts to make a slight left turn, leave this road to the right into a little bumpy road, which will lead you to the fence if you continune driving straight all the time (exact way marked on the map)…

WHAT	From here you have a great view onto all runway movements.

TIME	Actually late morning till afternoon, but thanks to the turning pad backtracks and turning aircraft can still be shot till the evening.

MISC.	Nothing around, take water and all other stuff with you. Ladder may be helpful to be safe, but normally there are some big rocks and similar objects in this area from which you can shoot over the fence easily 😀 Don’t go here with a nice car as it’s a small and shitty road, so you may destroy it. Rather come by scoot/quad like we did and had good experiences only. As always in these areas, heat haze can be a problem as well as high grass.

FOCAL LENGTH	30-250mm ATR42 side shot = 50mm / Cessna 172 = 175mm / Piper + Tower = 200mm

	Spot #3 – Eastern runway head – 08 Arrivals + 26 Departures
WHERE	In the east of the airfield this time, there is a small farmer path running along the airport property’s edge. Just make your way to the city centre of the village of Zerfiria and then a bit south of the major junction, you will find a small road running between fields to the west (marked on the map exactly). Take this one as it will lead you to the the spot, which is just located on the above mentioned farmer path. So park your car by the roadside (max. 1 car per hour so no problem) and search your favourite position along the airport property’s edge…

WHAT	Here you can see turning aircraft on the eastern pad only. So aircraft turning after 08 arrivals or backtracks prior 26 departure.

TIME	Sunrise till late noon/early afternoon: you can walk along the fence and thus adjust your spot regarding the light’s position…

MISC.	Nothing around, take water and all other stuff with you. City of Zerfiria is the closest location with facilities. No ladder needed as here you have no fence 😀 As always in these areas, heat haze can be a problem as well as high grass.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm Face-2-Face = 210mm