Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

August 28, 2019 - last modified on December 6, 2023

Ministro Pistarini International Airport, better known as Ezeiza, since it is located in that city, is the main airport in the Argentine Republic and was officially opened on April 30, 1949. Located about 35 km from the City of Buenos Aires the airport is (after GIG and GRU) the third gateway to South America. During the last year it has registered a total traffic of 11,206,259 passengers, with a total of more than 73,844 operations in 2018

Unfortunately, the connection with the city is practically null. There are no trains or metros that connect the airport with the city and the only thing that exists are some urban bus lines. For the Spotter the only way to get here is by car.

For landings, the biggest movement is between 06:00 and 11:00 o’clock when all the heavies from Europe and USA arrive – at noon, the takeoffs of the europeans begin. Unlike the ones to the USA, which leave at night already.

A car is necessary to get to the spotters points of the Runways. Runway 17 and Cargo Terminal have no spotting locations and on the route parking is prohibited by the side of the Runway…

Flight schedule can be found on the official airport website.

Written by Guiellermo (local spotter). Last update August 2019.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
11/29	3,300 m (10,828 ft) Asphalt
17/35	3,105 m (10,187 ft) Asphalt
Terminals
Terminal A & B	They are used by almost all international airlines operating at the airport Aeroméxico; Air Canada; Air Europa; Avianca; Boliviana de Aviación; British Airways; Copa Airlines; Cubana de Aviación; Delta Air Lines; Emirates; Gol; Iberia; LAN Airlines; Lufthansa; Qatar Airways: Sky Airline; Turkish Airlines; United Airlines; American Airlines; Air France; Alitalia; KLM; Air New Zeland, Azul
Terminal C	Its used by Aerolíneas Argentinas, Austral Líneas Aéreas y LATAM Argentina arrivals and departures domestic and internationals fligths. Departures of SkyTeam´s members partners -Alitalia – Air France – Delta Air Lines – KLM, except Air Europa and Aeroméxico.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not required at any spots.
Car/Public Transport	A car is absolutely required. Public transport is not available!
Restrooms	The locations are next to roads and except some bushes there is nothing available.
Drinks/Food	Bring water or some food if you plan to spend a good part of the day. There is nothing nearby to buy!!! Best to buy the drinks and food within the terminals.
Hotels	There are almost no bigger hotels around the airport except some small guest houses.
Season	No special season by traffic. From may till september (winter) you will have shorter days but the sun is not so high like in the summer months and there are less rainy days. Also the interesting traffic is from sunrise till noon.
Security	You shouldn’t be afraid to spot at EZE. It is much safer than at other airpots in Souther America. Yes be attentive. Sometimes there are other spotters and it is better to be accompanied. Nothing has ever happened being in a group. If you are alone, you have to have safety arrangements like in any city. Try not to make the equipment visible, save it or hide it between traffic. Try not to go alone to the pedrastrain bridge next to Spot 2!
Runway Usage
General Info/strong>	Go early in the morning because it is when all the arrivals of heavies from Europe and the USA taking place. At noon the heavies to Europe taking off. If Rwy 11 is in use it is nice to go to spot 1 early to see them arrive and then move to spot 2 to see them taking off.
11/29	Depends on the wind and used in all directions. Rwy 11 is the most direction in used, followed by 29.
17/35	Third most used is rwy 35 and finally Rwy17.

	Spot #1 – Camino Real Presbítero González y Aragón
WHERE	This location is along a road called Camino Real Presbítero González y Aragón Ezeiza Buenos Aires. You can move freely through any sector and park the car on the road without any problem.

WHAT	This location is for spotting Runway 11 arrivals, which is the most runway in use, or departures from runway 29.

TIME	From sunrise to afternoon all year round. Photographs can not be taken in the summer evening. Because of the ligth it would be necesary to cross a railway without use. On the other side of the rail there is an Argentina Gendarmeria detachemnt that prohibited taking photos from there…

MISC.	There are no restrooms or nearby oil stations. Since it is a very little traveled route, there are no known significant robbery events in this location.

FOCAL LENGTH	100mm for Boeing 767 and 787, 155mm for narrow-body jets and business jets.

	Spot #2 – Av. Jorge Newbery
WHERE	Another location along a road called Av. Jorge Newbery, Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, Argenitna. You can move freely around the corner and leaving the car on the roadside where the spotting point is indicated. Pay attention to the area, it is not usual for pedestrians to circulate there. It is located on a secondary road to the Ezeiza-Cañuleas Highway.

WHAT	You get very nice views of Rwy 29 arrivals and ideal for Rwy 11 takeoffs.

TIME	From sunrise to afternoon all year round. In the summer evenings you can walk to the other side of the approach path to the pedestrian bridge but its not recommend due to security reasons.

MISC.	There are no oil stations or public restrooms nearby. It is an area where you have to pay a little attention to robberies. Near this location there is a pedestrian bridge that is not recommended to go because of the amount of robberies that occurred there.

FOCAL LENGTH	85mm for Boeing 767 and 787, 105mm for narrow-body jets and business jets.

	Spot #3 – Av. Constitución
WHERE	Located along the Av. Constitución, Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, Argenitna, a secondary road that leads to the Ezeiza Prison, with little traffic and safe on the highway that separates this location from a nearby settlement. You can move freely through any sector and park the car on the side of the road without any problem.

WHAT	This location is only for spotting Runway 35 arrivals or departures on runway 17. It is the third most used Rwy and is always used with north wind. The best of all locations because of the proximity of the planes. 35 departures on the ground can be seen too but not photograph as they are backlit.

TIME	Almost all day long with a break around noon.

MISC.	There are no public service stations or restrooms nearby and no trees spending shadow.

FOCAL LENGTH	35mm for Boeing 767 and 787, 55mm for narrow-body jets and business jets.