Genoa Airport - Spotting Guide

Genoa Airport – Spotting Guide

August 7, 2021 - last modified on November 20, 2023

Genoa Airport (GOA/LIMJ) is the most important airfield in the county of Liguria and located 7km west of the city centre. It serves the city and Port of Genoa, the local population and allows tourists an easy entrance into the area. Genoa Airport was lately the 21st busiest Italian airfield measured by passenger traffic in 2018 once roughly 1,5 million people passed thru GOA. Apart from local Italian carrier Alitalia, the Spanish low-cost airline Volotea has one of its four bases in Italy here. In addition, GOA is regularly visited by business jets and corperate traffic as well as some charter flights. Last but not least, Genoa is also home to some Italian firefighter aircraft CL415s and various Piaggo P180s operated by different authorities – Piaggio production sites were originally located in this area.

The airport was constructed on an artificial island in the 1950s here, opened in 1962 while the first proper terminal facility and thus the airport itsself as we know it today was opened in 1985.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Valentino Rusconi. Last Update: 2021

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
10/28	2915m × 45m – Asphalt
Terminals
T1	There is only one terminal handling all operations/airlines.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not always recommended along the fence, but a small 2-3 stepladder would be useful although you can also shoot thru the mesh.
Car/Public Transport	Car is not really needed as all spots are quite close to each other and you can thus move around by foot easily, the area however is reachable by bus simply.
Drinks/Food	Very few around the airport except in the terminal facilities.
Hotels	There is a superb hotel called “Tower Genova Airport Hotel” north of the terminal offering great apron views.
Season	Summer allows more spotting from the nothern side which is the only one you can access without a boat plus the danger of wildfires is hire resulting in normally more CL415 movements. Therefore heat haze is a bigger issue then.
Security	Spotting is normally no problem here, but keep a low profile around the “authority apron” in the north and keep your camera hidden once officials/generals/politicans/VIPs are boarding here.
Runway Usage
General Info	10/28 is useable in both direction, however 28 usage is preferred due to noise pollution and the terrain as it is easier to approach the airfield from the southeast due to the close mountains in the northwest.

	Spot #1 – Control Tower – Cargo/Corporate apron + nearby Taxiways
WHERE	This is the main spotting location in Genoa where all spotters start their hobby after looking at movements from here. It is located a few meters northeast of the GOA control tower. Once you are on “Via Pionieri e Aviatori d’Italia” close to the tower you should see a little café north of the tower facilities. You can park your car on the backside and also find the spot there. Just proceed by foot to the south once you end up at the fence.

WHAT	This spot offers nice views onto the cargo/corporate apron plus nearby taxiways and runway parts. A small 2-3 stepladder would be useful although you can also shoot thru the mesh.

TIME	The lights starts to get good in the afternoon and it is also really good for night shots.

MISC.	Heat haze is a huge issue on the runway as well as clutter blocking your view here. Restrooms and Restaurants are nearby along the Marina.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-500mm E190 on runway = 500mm / F900 on apron = 135mm

	Spot #2 – Fence corner – Nearby Taxiway/Runway/Apron
WHERE	Make your way to the western end of “Via Pionieri e Aviatori d’Italia”, the Marina harbour. There you will find a large parking garage, in front of this building you can simply park and then walk up to the fence, which is located south of the parking and where you can easily position yourself along at regarding favourite angle and sight.

WHAT	From here you can spot the nearby runway and taxiway parts as well as the nearby apron parts east of you. A small 2-3 stepladder would be useful although you can also shoot thru the mesh.

TIME	Light is actually only good on early summer mornings for 28 arrivals and departures. Otherwise there’ll be backlit rest of the year.

MISC.	Restrooms and Restaurants are nearby along the Marina.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm B748 = 200mm

	Spot #3 – Terminal driveway North – Apron West
WHERE	This spot is located north of the terminal facilities along the sidewalk of the terminal driveway, on the 2nd floor in front of the terminal. There are plenty parking possibilities around the terminal, which is also served by public transport (bus e.g.).

WHAT	The apron in front is generally used during first flight ceremonies with their water salutes. Apart from that you can see parts of the general aviation and authority apron from here.

TIME	Light is good here in the morning hours until noon.

MISC.	Take care of furious drivers on the driveway. Trees and the fence are disturbing here once an aircraft gets close. Everything you need is inside the nearby terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm CRJ900 = 55mm / Global 6000 = 170mm

	Spot #4 – Terminal driveway East – Apron South
WHERE	This position is also located on the terminaldriveway/the 2nd floor just in front of the terminal. But now do not locate yourself north of the terminal building on the sidewalk, place yourself on the sidewalk at the eastern end instead. There are plenty parking possibilities around the terminal, which is also served by public transport (bus e.g.).

WHAT	From here you can nicely see the southern apron in front (mostly used by LCC) as well as the runway behind.

TIME	Light is actually only good on early summer mornings. Otherwise there’ll be backlit.

MISC.	Take care of furious drivers on the driveway. The fence may be disturbing here once an aircraft gets close. Distant movements are affected by heat haze quickly therefore. Everything you need is inside the nearby terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm

	Spot #5 – Terminal terrace – Apron + Runway 10/28
WHERE	After many years of closure, Genoa airport reopened its terrace in 2019. It is located on the upper floors at the terminal’s southwestern most corner. There are plenty parking possibilities around the terminal, which is also served by public transport (bus e.g.). So you can simply approach this spot, which is accessible without boarding pass at it is located BEFORE security check!

WHAT	It offers an awesome overview over almost the whole airport area and many aprons/runway parts.

TIME	It is is reccommended to shoot during the morning. During the day it is not recommendable, but in the evenings you can get awesome “silhouette shots”.

MISC.	Be aware it is behind tinted glass! The sky terrace is equipped with a cafè called “Caffee Pascucci Sky terrace”. Haze is an issue on the runway. Terrace can be accessed without valid boarding pass – it is located before security check!

FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm A319 close-up = 190mm

Terrace itsself looks like THIS , the pictures taken from here like these:

	Spot #6 – Via Pionieri e Aviatori d’Italia – Apron North
WHERE	Make your way to “Via Pionieri e Aviatori d’Italia” north of the terminal and a few meters north of the mentioned “Tower Genova Airport Hotel” you will find a small curve within this street from where you can see the parts of the apron. You can park your car nearby along the roadsides.

WHAT	Here you will have nice views onto the northern apron used by the Italian authorities: P180s and CL415s.

TIME	Only useable in the early morning hours.

MISC.	Small ladder (2-3 steps) may be useful, but as most aircraft here will be photographed static, you can also shoot thru the mesh. Haze can become an issue once noon gets closer.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

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Lionello Morganti

3 years ago

Ciao,
alla fine di ottobre starò qualche giorno all’Hotel Mediterranee, è troppo lontano per lo spotting? Grazie.
Lionello Morganti

Severin

Reply to Lionello Morganti

3 years ago

Ciao Lionello,

the hotel may be fine for spotting regarding the distance, but you will have backlit all day, keep that in mind. But please tell us how it was once you were there for spotting.

Thanks.