Planespotting Berlin Brandenburg — EDDB
Berlin Brandenburg opened in 2020 after a decade of delays and replaced both Tegel and the old Schönefeld terminal. It has two widely spaced parallel runways, which is the first thing to understand before choosing a spot. The northern 06L/24R (3,600 m) handles Terminal 2's low-cost traffic, most Lufthansa flights, cargo, general aviation and military movements. The southern 06R/24L (4,000 m) takes most of the other Terminal 1 traffic. In practice, the parking stand decides the runway, and the Airport CDM app shows each departure's runway in advance. Westerly winds make 24 operations the norm, with 06 days whenever the wind swings east. BER also hosts the Luftwaffe's government flight operations on the north side, so state aircraft and visiting heads of state are a real possibility. The airport is spread out, and the spots are scattered around villages such as Selchow, Waßmannsdorf and Kiekebusch, so a car or bike makes a big difference.
- BTI3FL 37 975 ft
- QTR73F B789 7 575 ft
- NJE146K C68A 2 425 ft
- EWG5JW A320 50 ft RWY 07L
- AUA230U A20N
- DLH9AW A20N
- TKJ4JH B38M
- FMG
Conditions right now
Runways
- 07R/25L RWY 07R 3,991 × 60 m · 13,094 × 197 ft concrete
- 07L/25R 3,592 × 45 m · 11,785 × 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: 07:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody76%
- Widebody6%
- Turboprop6%
- Bizjet5%
- Military4%
- Cargo3%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Schwarzer Weg and the Jürgen-Schumann-Allee railway bridge
Two positions under the approach to 24R on the north-east side. From the field along Schwarzer Weg, aircraft pass slightly to the side on final; from the railway bridge on Jürgen-Schumann-Allee, the angle is closer and almost side-on — a 787 fills the frame at 60 mm.
- Getting there
- Park off the carriageway on Schwarzer Weg, then walk under the motorway and along Jürgen-Schumann-Allee to the bridge. Stand on the grass behind the crash barrier, not on the road. Food and toilets at the nearby Burger King or in the terminal.
- Best time
- 24R arrivals, from about 08:00 to mid-afternoon in summer, all day in winter.
- Lens
- 150–310 mm at Schwarzer Weg, 60–120 mm on the bridge.
Terminal 1 visitor terrace
The paid viewing deck along the south-west face of Terminal 1, with most of the main passenger apron in front of you. Everything is shot through glass, and the north-west corner has a coating that makes it worse — but it is warm, dry and good for logging registrations.
- Getting there
- Follow the signs inside Terminal 1 (FEX and S-Bahn to BER Terminal 1-2). Entry costs a few euros with a short security check; ladders are not allowed. Opening days and hours have changed several times — check the airport website before you go.
- Best time
- From sunrise to around 16:00, depending on where you aim; taxiway shots are best before 09:00.
- Lens
- 50–500 mm.
Car parks P7/P8 link, top level
The roof of the link between the two multi-storeys looks across the taxiways to runway 06L/24R. Lamp posts by the stands get in the way of taxiway shots, but aircraft on the northern runway are clean. Arrivals on the southern runway are visible too, though distant and usually against the light.
- Getting there
- Drive into P7 or P8 (expensive: around €8 an hour) and go to the top, or walk from the terminal. No ladder needed; the terminal is next door for food and toilets.
- Best time
- Runway and taxiway from about 08:00 to 16:00 in summer. Heat haze over the runway on hot afternoons.
- Lens
- 200 mm minimum; around 330 mm for an A320 on the runway.
Selchow mound (east end)
An earth mound by the village of Selchow at the eastern end of the airfield, facing 06L arrivals and catching late-rotating departures from 24R. A local spotters' favourite, with a small restaurant a few steps away.
- Getting there
- Park in Selchow village or take the local bus to the stop in the village. Toilets and food at the restaurant '45 Über Null'. No ladder needed; there is little shade.
- Best time
- 06L arrivals and 24R departures, from about 08:00 to 16:00 in summer.
- Lens
- 100–300 mm.
Kiekebusch lake track — 24L arrivals
South-east of the airport, a farm track from the L402 near Kiekebusch leads past a small lake to the fence under the approach to the southern runway. A quiet spot for 24L arrivals, although approach light poles cut into some angles.
- Getting there
- By car from Kiekebusch along the L402; park by the lake or at the end of the dirt track. Nothing nearby, no ladder needed.
- Best time
- 24L arrivals, from about 08:00 to 16:00 in summer, all day in winter.
- Lens
- 70–200 mm.
Kienitzberg — 06R arrivals
On easterly days, this open ground at the western end gives landings on 06R and late rotations off 24L. On a calm day you can walk closer to the fence to cut the distance and the heat haze.
- Getting there
- Drive in from the L402 past the golf course and park at the end of Kienitzberg street, then walk out. No facilities, no ladder needed. Another solar farm has fenced off a spot nearby — expect further changes on this side.
- Best time
- 06R arrivals and late 24L departures, from about 08:00 to 16:00 in summer.
- Lens
- 70–300 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
easyJet and Ryanair run large bases with A320s and 737s, joined by Eurowings, Lufthansa feeders, Wizz Air, Pegasus, SunExpress and Condor's holiday flights. Long-haul is limited but growing: Qatar Airways' daily widebody service, seasonal flights to the US with United and Delta, and occasional Asian services. Turkish and Middle Eastern carriers add the odd A330 or 777. The German Air Force's government fleet — A350, A321, Global 6000 — operates from the government terminal on the north side, and state visits bring foreign VIP jets to Berlin. Cargo is mainly feeder freighters and belly hold. Military transports also use the northern runway.
What actually flew over Berlin Brandenburg in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- A320 32.4 %
- B738 14.8 %
- A21N 13.2 %
- A20N 11.7 %
- A321 8.8 %
- A319 7.3 %
- B38M 7.1 %
- EC35 4.7 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Berlin?
Spotterra's live map identifies anything over Berlin in real time — airliners on approach to BER, government flights and helicopters — with type, registration and route from ADS-B and MLAT.
Which runway will my aircraft use at BER?
It depends on the parking stand rather than the airline: stands north of gate B05 and Terminal 2 use the northern 06L/24R; the rest use the southern 06R/24L. The Airport CDM app shows the planned departure runway.
Can I spot BER without a car?
Only partly. The terminal terrace and car park are on the rail line, and some villages have local buses, but the good runway-end spots are far apart. A car or bike makes it much easier.
Where do government aircraft park at BER?
On the north side, at the government terminal near the former Schönefeld area. The Luftwaffe's A350s and A321s use the northern runway, so spots facing 06L/24R give you the best chance.
Spotterra watches the sky over Berlin Brandenburg
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