Planespotting Belgrade — LYBE
Nikola Tesla Airport lies about 18 km west of central Belgrade between Surčin and the village of Radiofar, and is the hub of Air Serbia. For decades it had a single runway, 12/30; a new parallel runway was built south of the old one, so the airport now has 12L/30R and the longer 12R/30L, and the pattern may differ from what older guides describe. Runway 30 is used more in summer and 12 more in winter. Surčin sits right under the 30 approach, which gives easy street-side spots for arrivals from the south-east, while the fields around Radiofar on the north side look across the airfield. Traffic mixes Air Serbia's network, low-cost carriers and links that are rare in the EU, from Chinese widebodies to Air Serbia's flights to Russia. The downside is the police: officers do not understand spotting, and people moving along the fence near the terminal have been taken in for questioning, especially during VIP or military movements. Stay well back from the fence and skip the ladder.
- UAE73J A388 39 000 ft
- AFR264 A359 37 000 ft
- ASL12B A319 4 050 ft RWY 12
Conditions right now
Runways
- 12/30 RWY 30 3,397 × 45 m · 11,145 × 148 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 17:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody72%
- Turboprop12%
- Widebody6%
- Cargo4%
- Bizjet4%
- Military2%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Surčinska Road by Hotel Mar Garni (30 arrivals)
In Surčin, the entrance of Hotel Mar Garni and the bus stop beside it look up at aircraft on approach to runway 30. When the sun moves round, walk down the road to a café with a similar angle. Shops and restaurants along the main road, and the hotel itself is a good base for a spotting trip.
- Getting there
- Surčinska Road in Surčin, reachable by city bus from Belgrade; the hotel has parking for guests. Easy and low-key compared with the fence spots.
- Best time
- 30 arrivals in early summer mornings at the hotel, and from afternoon to sunset near the café.
- Lens
- 150–260 mm.
Periklova Street, Surčin (30 arrivals and line-ups)
At the south-eastern end of the airfield the streets around Periklova sit slightly above the fence, so small mounds let you shoot over it without a ladder. You get 30 arrivals and line-ups at the runway end.
- Getting there
- Drive or take the bus to Surčin and walk to Periklova or the neighbouring streets. Nothing here — keep a low profile with big lenses.
- Best time
- Arrivals from midday until sunset; line-ups from sunrise to late morning.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm.
Beračka Street (30 short final)
Directly beneath the final approach to 30 along the fence line, reached from Beračka street. A simple spot for close shots of aircraft just before touchdown.
- Getting there
- From Surčin via Beračka street; park in the residential area and walk to a position under the approach. Avoid hanging around the fence itself.
- Best time
- Late evenings, mostly in summer.
- Lens
- 50–400 mm.
Highway 266 roadside (12 arrivals)
At the north-western end the road past the airport runs under the approach to runway 12, with side-on arrivals and 30 departures head-on. You can walk a few metres into the field to vary the angle. Traffic is fast, so this is a quick stop.
- Getting there
- Car only; stop on the side of the carriageway leading away from the airport, as the median prevents crossing. Do not leave the car long and watch out for aggressive drivers.
- Best time
- 12 arrivals from late morning to sunset; head-on shots at the runway end at dawn or dusk in summer.
- Lens
- 50–400 mm.
Milana Konjovića street, Radiofar (12 arrivals)
At the end of Milana Konjovića street on the western edge of Radiofar you look onto 12 arrivals, 30 departures and line-ups from the north side. The Pista 011 spotting café nearby on Vasilija Ostroškog street has a view of the apron, but it is not always open and the owner expects you to order.
- Getting there
- Drive to the end of the paved street and park at the roadside, then walk the last part. Fields get very muddy when wet. Stay back from the fence.
- Best time
- Early summer mornings only.
- Lens
- 200–400 mm.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Air Serbia dominates with A319/A320/A321s, ATR 72s and the A330 flying to New York, supplemented by wet-leased jets in summer. Wizz Air has a large base, and Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, Turkish, Qatar Airways and flydubai link Belgrade with the world; Chinese airlines provide widebody links rare in the EU. Summer adds charters to Greece, Turkey and Egypt. Cargo flights call regularly, and government and occasional military aircraft use the airport — the moments when police watch the perimeter most closely.
What actually flew over Belgrade in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- B738 29.8 %
- A21N 17.3 %
- B38M 17.1 %
- A320 13.4 %
- A20N 10.7 %
- A321 4.6 %
- A319 4.3 %
- AT76 2.8 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Belgrade?
Spotterra's live map shows aircraft over Belgrade and the Srem plain in real time, with type, registration and route — free, straight from ADS-B receivers.
Is spotting at Belgrade airport safe?
Mostly, if you stay away from the fence. Police are not used to spotters and have taken people in for questioning near the terminal, especially during VIP flights. Use the Surčin street spots and leave if asked.
Which runway is in use at BEG?
Runway 30 is used more in summer, 12 in winter. With the new parallel 12R/30L now in service, check the live map before choosing a side; Spotterra predicts the active direction from the METAR.
Can I see Air Serbia's A330 in Belgrade?
Yes — Air Serbia's A330 flies the transatlantic route to New York and is based here between rotations. Check the live map for today's departure and arrival times.
Spotterra watches the sky over Belgrade
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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