Planespotting Liège — EBLG
Liège is one of Europe's busiest cargo airports and, for a spotter, something close to a freighter zoo. Since TUI left in January 2026 there have been almost no passenger flights, so nearly everything you see is a freighter: the ASL Airlines Belgium hub, FedEx transatlantic services, Qatar, Ethiopian, Challenge, CMA CGM and MSC cargo, Chinese e-commerce flights and a long tail of ad-hoc African and Asian operators. The airport sits 9 km west of the city at Grâce-Hollogne, on the former Bierset air base. The long runway 04R/22L (about 3.7 km) carries all the heavy traffic in both directions; the parallel 04L/22R is used mostly by light aircraft. Much of the action happens at night and in the evening, which makes the Park Inn hotel at the airport unusually useful. Outside, most spots are on the edges of fields and truck parks, and a car is the realistic option.
- BAW137 B789 39 000 ft
- TKJ1EJ B38M 37 000 ft
- FRO048 SB20 26 000 ft
- LXHMC EC45 1 850 ft
Conditions right now
Runways
- 04R/22L RWY 04R 3,699 × 45 m · 12,136 × 148 ft asphalt
- 05R/23L 3,286 × 45 m · 10,781 × 148 ft closed
- 05L/23R 2,339 × 45 m · 7,674 × 148 ft closed
- 04L/22R 2,335 × 45 m · 7,661 × 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: 01:00
Typical traffic mix
- Cargo72%
- Narrowbody10%
- Bizjet8%
- GA5%
- Turboprop3%
- Military2%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Rue de l'Aéroport lawn (south-west, by the truck park)
A grass strip next to a large truck park on the southern side, with six photo holes in the fence. It is the main daytime spot for runway action when 04 is in use — rotations and roll-outs are close enough for a 747 to fill 40 mm. Some 22 arrivals can be caught as they exit to the northern ramp.
- Getting there
- Follow the Rue de l'Aéroport about 2.3 km south-west from the terminal and park at the roadside — not inside the truck park, which is private. Bus 57 from Liège-Guillemins stops at the ASL (former TNT) building nearby. Part of the zone has been fenced off recently.
- Best time
- Runway 04 in use, sunrise to about 14:00. A four-step ladder or the small mound clears the fence; long grass in summer can hide wheels.
- Lens
- 40–200 mm.
Hill at the 22L threshold (Rue en Bois)
A high bank beside the road just past the final approach to 22L. Since the tree line was cut in spring 2026 it gives an elevated, unobstructed view of freighters landing and lining up on 22L, with the cargo ramp across the runway.
- Getting there
- Park on the grass by the road or on the gravel in front of the small racing circuit and walk up. Buses 83 and 85 from Liège to 'Bierset Rue en Bois'. No ladder needed; nothing nearby.
- Best time
- Landings on 22L, from late afternoon to sunset in summer only — in winter the sun never comes round.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm (a landing 747 is about 100 mm).
Avenue Théodule Gonda roundabout — 04R arrivals
A dead-end arm of a roundabout under the approach to 04R, south-west of the airport. Freighters pass low on short final with the sun behind you for most of the day.
- Getting there
- From the motorway exit 4 'Flémalle'; free parking a little to the west on the Avenue Théodule Gonda. Watch for fast traffic at the roundabout and for the slope in front of the spot.
- Best time
- Landings on 04R, from about an hour after sunrise to mid-afternoon.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm.
Rue du Bihet meadow — 04R arrivals
An open meadow by the Rue du Bihet where you can choose your own angle on aircraft landing on 04R; the classic shot is taken a few metres north-west of the turning area along the fence.
- Getting there
- Park on the dirt turning area on the right-hand side of the Rue du Bihet. No ladder needed; no facilities.
- Best time
- Landings on 04R, summer evenings.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm.
Park Inn by Radisson Liège Airport
The airport hotel has rooms on the upper floors facing the field, and the corridor windows at the ends open towards the 22 approach. It is the best way to cover the night bank, when ASL, FedEx and Chinese freighters cluster, and to log aircraft on the main apron.
- Getting there
- At the airport on the Rue de l'Aéroport; bus 57 from Liège-Guillemins. You need to be a guest — ask for a high floor facing the runway.
- Best time
- 22 arrivals and taxiing traffic, sunrise to mid-afternoon; night shots after dark.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm and a tripod for night work.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Freighters make up almost all movements. ASL Airlines Belgium runs 737 freighters around Europe and widebodies on long-haul routes, FedEx brings 777Fs and MD-11s from Memphis and Indianapolis, and Qatar Airways Cargo, Ethiopian Cargo, Challenge Airlines, CMA CGM Air Cargo, MSC Air Cargo, Atlas Air, Air China Cargo, SF Airlines and many smaller operators fly 747-400Fs, 747-8Fs, 777Fs and A330Fs. Ad-hoc African and Central Asian carriers keep the rarity value high. Passenger flights stopped in January 2026, with airBaltic announcing twice-weekly Canary Islands services from late October 2026.
What actually flew over Liège in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- B77L 19.3 %
- B738 17.7 %
- A20N 13.6 %
- B744 13.1 %
- A320 12.6 %
- A21N 8.9 %
- B38M 7.8 %
- C152 6.9 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Liège?
Spotterra's live map shows every ADS-B aircraft over Liège in real time with type, registration and route — at a freighter hub like this, it is the only reliable way to know what is coming, since ad-hoc cargo flights rarely appear in public timetables.
When is Liège busiest?
In the evening and through the night, when express and e-commerce freighters arrive and depart in banks. Daytime traffic is lighter but still mostly widebody freighters.
Are there passenger flights at Liège?
TUI ended its flights in January 2026, leaving the airport without regular passenger services. airBaltic has announced twice-weekly flights to Tenerife and Gran Canaria from late October 2026.
Do I need a ladder?
Not at the 22L hill, the Gonda roundabout or the Rue du Bihet. On the Rue de l'Aéroport lawn there are photo holes, but a four-step ladder gives cleaner shots; at the cargo apron fence only a very tall ladder works.
Spotterra watches the sky over Liège
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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