Granada-Jaén Airport - Spotting Guide

Granada-Jaén Airport – Spotting Guide

September 5, 2020 - last modified on November 20, 2023

Federico García Lorca Granada-Jaén Airport, mostly known as Granada Airport (GRX/LEGR) is Andalusia’s third busiest airport in passenger numbers, just behind Malaga and Seville. It’s located 17 km away from the city centre, and connected with a shuttle bus every hour and a half, but the spotting points are not reachable by bus without walking some time without a single shade. Granada Airport was opened back in 1972, operating with one runway since then (09/27). It has one terminal, and all flights are oprated from there. As a curiosity, there are no fingers at this airport, so every flight is boarded and deboarded by foot. In 2006, the Ministry of Development reached a collaboration agreement with the Provincial Council of Jaén for the Granada airport, which could also serve this province, which does not have its own airport.

Granada airport has been served by many international airlines through the years, including Monarch, Transavia, easyJet and Ryanair. However, at the time of writing this guide its only operators are Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional), Air Europa, Vueling and Volotea. All this airlines operate flights to Barcelona, Madrid, Gran Canaria, Tenerife North, Menorca, Melilla and Palma de Mallorca. Sometimes this airport also receives aircraft for testing in high temperature conditions. However, this movements are extremely rare. Private operators doesn’t operate in Granada often, but some bizjets can be seen sometimes. The airport is surrounded by a fence, and a ladder is recommendated at some spots, specially for planes in the taxiways.

Written by Jero Vida. Last Update: July 2020

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
09/27	2900m/9514ft. Asphalt
Terminals	Terminal 1. All flights operated here
Spotting Information
Ladder	Needed partially at spot #1
Car/Public Transport	Car needed for all spotting locations, the airport bus only reaches the terminal and it’s very far away from the spotting point
Restrooms	Only in nearby restaurants
Drinks/Food	At a gas station for points #1 and #2, at a restaurant at point #3
Hotels	Only two are near, Hotel El Cruce and Hotel Marinetto at #3.
Season	Traffic is mostly the same all year round. Summer can be quite hot and winters quite cold.
Runway Usage
09/27	Runway 09 is mostly used for landings when winds are ok, since runway 27 doesn’t have an ILS system. Takeoffs can happen in both runways, but 09 is mostly used.

	Spot #1 – Runwat 09 landings and line-up
WHERE	Get the A92 direct to the airport, following the traffic signs. Then, follow the A-4075 until the roundabout with a gas station near. Get the second exit, through the GR-V-1121. From this point, the road is not made of asphalt, so watch out for holes and other obstacles. Turn right at the first junctions, and keep following the road. You’ll eventually arrive at the spotting point. There is another way to get there, reach point three, then turn right towards the narrow road besides de highway (be careful, it’s a narrow two-way road and you may find other cars or even tractors). Keep going up to the second junction, turn left and go straight until you pass the landing lights, then turn again left and the spotting point is just a few meters ahead.

WHAT	You can get aircraft lining up and landing at runway 09. You can put yourself wherever you want on that road, but our suggestion is to go a bit further in order to clear the fence for arrivals. A ladder is needed for the line-ups.

TIME	In summer, from 11:00 to 18:00. In winter it can be used from sunrise to sunset.

MISC.	Nothing is near, you are in the middle of nowhere, so bring shades with you and water.

FOCAL LENGTH	110mm for an A320, 220mm for a PC-24 (landings) and short range lens for lining up aircraft. (Depends on the photo you want).

	Spot #2 – Runway 27 landings and line-up.
WHERE	Follow the same instructions to Spot #1 until you reach the roundabout. Pass it, and drive right into a dirt path. Just drive this path and you’ll get to the point.

WHAT	You can get aircraft landing and lining up at runway 27, but I do not suggest line-ups in this runway since you have to go into private parcels of land and landlords might get angry if they see you there

TIME	In summer, from 11:00 to 18:00. In winter it can be used from sunrise to sunset

MISC.	A gas station is near, but we recommend to bring everything you may need.

FOCAL LENGTH	110mm for an A320, 220mm for a Global (landings) and short range lens for lining up aircraft. (Depends on the photo you want)

	Spot #3 – Runway 09/27 landings and takeoffs
WHERE	Get the A92, but this time don’t get the road to the airport, keep driving until exit number 227. Take “Carrera de la Virgen” road until tje junction with “Gladiolo” road, then turn left and go straight until you get to the roundabout.Take the second exit to “Ronda Exterior” road, until the next roundabout and take the second exit to “Tres” road. The spotting point is at the end of that road, over the bridge.

WHAT	Takeoffs and landings from both runways. You have a free sight as you are on an elevated postion to clear the fence.

TIME	Only in summer, from sunrise to 11:00 and from 18:00 to sunset. In winter it’s always backlit.

MISC.	Try to park your car in a safe place, this road holds many traffic and the car might be an obstacle to other drivers. There are some bars and hotels near.

FOCAL LENGTH	70mm for an A320, 150 for a PC-24.