Kiev Boryspil Airport - Spotting Guide

Kiev Boryspil Airport – Spotting Guide

October 16, 2019 - last modified on November 20, 2023

Kiev Boryspil International (KBP/UKBB) is the biggest airport in Ukraine. Nearly 12 mio passengers use the airport 30km east of the capital Kiev. It is the second civil airport of the city besides Zhuliany with schedule passenger traffic. KBP is the main base for the national carrier Ukraine International Airlines using B737, E190, B763 and B772 and SkyUp using B737. Other local airlines are Azur Air Ukraine, Windrose Airlines, Yanair and Bravo Airways (using MD80 planes!). Ryanair opened a base in winter 2018 and is expending very rapid. The military has a large number of AN26, An30, AN32 and helicopters based at KBP. Further the government fleet of AN148 and A319 are based here. They often fly in the afternoon training missions so you might get lucky and catch them.

Timetable can be found on the official airport website.

Written by Tommy Pfeiffer / regular visitor.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
18R/36L	3500m, 11,483ft concrete
18L/36R	4000m, 13,123ft concrete
Terminals
Terminal D	All major full service carriers.
Terminal F	Ryanair, Laudamotion, SkyUp, YanAir, Bravo Airways, Bukovyna, FANair, Wind Rose
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed or recommended.
Car/Public Transport	A car is absolutely needed! Be aware that the roads for the southern locations are very bumpy and in bad conditions. Partially you have to drive on dirt roads. Only spots 1 to 4 and Spot 10 can be reached with public transport. Use google maps for that as we did not tested it..
Restrooms	Inside the terminal or in Boryspil city.
Drinks/Food	Inside the terminal or in Boryspil city.
Hotels	Ligena Hotel and Old Port are in close proximity and are very good.
Season	Summer time is best to visit due to north/south direction of the runways.
Security	There are many planes parked at the south-east part of the military ramp. For your own safety, don´t try to take pictures in this area because military immediately see you and won’t hesitate to use firearms to keep you away! Only use the given locations and don´t try anything else. When the President or other high rank officials use Boryspol the airport perimeter is secured and tightly checked. Avoid taking pictures at that time and keep a safe distance if you see military personal around.
Runway Usage
18R/36L	Less frequent in use. Cargoplanes like AN12 or smaller and training flights of the military use this runway. Used in both directions.
18L/36R	Main runway for takeoff and landing as it is closer to the terminal. Used in both directions.

	Spot #1 – Terminal D – ramp and 18L/36R movements
WHERE	This Spot is inside the security area of Terminal D and only suitable if you have a boarding pass. Spot is inside the security area and only recommended when arr or dep Kiev.

WHAT	Airplanes taxiing to and from the parkposition at Terminal D. It is also possible to take pictures of departing and arriving planes on runway 18L/36R.

TIME	Best light conditions from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	You have to take pictures through the terminal windows and heat haze can be a problem in summer.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm

	Spot #2 – Spotting Hills – 18L/36R movements
WHERE	Get to #3 and walk along the path for 10-15 as shown on the map until you reach the hills located at spot 2. Line-up pics through some small holes in the fence, next to a constructionsite. Walking from the terminal to this location is not possible!

WHAT	Departing and arriving planes on runway 18L/36R.

TIME	Best light conditions are from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	Not recommended to use when VIP flights are in progress and police are in the area. Also the field can be very muddy after rain.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-200mm

	Spot #3 – E40 motorway – 18L arrivals
WHERE	Get on the motorway E40 direction Boryspil. Turn off next to the 18L approach and drive a couple of meters on a bumpy road and park your car next to the spotting location as marked on the map. The locations is on a huge field so find your preferred position.

WHAT	Arriving planes on runway 18L.

TIME	Best light conditions are from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	Food and restroom at the nearby gas station.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

	Spot #4 – Vul. Chumats´ka street – 18L arrivals
WHERE	From the E40 turn into Vulytsya Horbatyuka street (pretty small road) and then into Vul. Chumats´ka street until you reach the spot. Park at the side of the road.

WHAT	Arriving planes on runway 18L.

TIME	Best light conditions are from early moring until noon.

MISC.	Food and restroom at the nearby gas station.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-200mm

	Spot #5 – Forestpath – 36R arrivals morning
WHERE	From the airport/E40 drive into Boryspil and turn into Volodymyra Momota street (there is a small supermarket at the junction). Drive all the way down till a fork road. Keep right there and at the next junction turn left. Then drive down on the old road and take the third right which brings you to the position. Park on the road and walk a couple of meters to the runway. It is hard to describe so for exact instructions please follow the line on the map above. The roads are concreted but in very bad condition but drivable until this spot.

WHAT	Arriving planes on runway 36R and departing planes on runway 18L

TIME	Best light conditions are from early moring until noon.

MISC.	You are in the middle of nowhere and nothing is nearby!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #6 – Field – 36R arrival afternoon
WHERE	Continue from #5 on the bumpy dirt road to the other side of the approach. The road after spot 5 to spot 6 are in very bad condition and not drivable after rain. You might have to park your car close to spot 5 (see map) and walk over to spot 6 or a least into the other side of the approach..

WHAT	Arriving planes on runway 36R and departing planes on runway 18L

TIME	Best light conditions are from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	You are in the middle of nowhere and nothing is nearby!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #7 – Martussiwka – morning 36L arrivals and 18R departures
WHERE	See instructions for #8 and continue on the road to the other side. The road after spot 8 to spot 7 are in very bad condition and not drivable after rain. You might have to park your car at spot 8 and walk over to spot 7 or a least into the other side of the approache.

WHAT	Arriving planes on runway 36L and departing planes on runway 18R

TIME	Best light conditions are from early moring until noon.

MISC.	You are in the middle of nowhere and nothing is nearby!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #8 – Martussiwka – afternoon 36L arrivals and 18R departures
WHERE	From the E40 turn into Avtoshlyakh T 1016 and drive down till you reach the village of Martussiwka. From there please follow the instructions on the line on the map above. At the end of the village you have to drive on some dirt roads which can become tricky to drive on after rain.

WHAT	Arriving planes on runway 36L and departing planes on runway 18R

TIME	Best light conditions are from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	Nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #9 – Field – All runway movements.
WHERE	From the E40 turn into Avtoshlyakh T 1016 and drive through the village of Hora. After you have passed it turn left into a dirt road. For further instructions please follow the line on the map above. Road can be tricky to drive after rain.

WHAT	All runway movements.

TIME	Best light conditions are from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	You have to take pictures through the fence for ground movements. Nothing nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

	Spot #10 – Shell Station – 18R arrivals
WHERE	From the E40 drive onto the Shell petrol stadion on either side of the road. Better is to use the northern one as you are more remote on this side.

WHAT	Arriving planes on runway 18R only.

TIME	Best light conditions are from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	Food and restrooms nearby at the petrol station. Keep a low profil in this area!

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm