Planespotting Lyon — LFLL
Lyon-Saint Exupéry lies in open farmland 25 km east of the city, which is good news for spotters: the fences are surrounded by fields, low hills and quiet roads rather than motorways and housing. Two parallel runways run north–south — 17R/35L, the 4 km strip mostly used for departures, and 17L/35R, mostly used for arrivals — and the flow switches with the wind. Because the runways point north and south, there is a usable spot for almost any time of day: the eastern side for mornings, the western side and the cargo area for afternoons. Air France runs a regional hub here with Embraer waves through the day, and the North African network makes it one of the better French airports for Air Algérie, Tunisair and Royal Air Maroc. You will want a car: apart from the crash gate within walking distance of the terminal, none of the spots are served by public transport.
- FMY88S2 7 975 ft
- LHX1842 A20N 37 250 ft
- TVF24UK B738 36 000 ft
- EJU56AX A320 24 475 ft
- HOP6166 E170 4 675 ft
Conditions right now
Runways
- 17R/35L RWY 35L 4,015 × 45 m · 13,173 × 148 ft concrete
- 18R/36L 4,000 × 45 m · 13,123 × 148 ft closed
- 17L/35R 2,692 × 45 m · 8,832 × 148 ft asphalt
- 18L/36R 2,670 × 45 m · 8,760 × 148 ft closed
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
- Narrowbody72%
- Bizjet9%
- Cargo6%
- Turboprop5%
- Widebody5%
- GA2%
- Military1%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Crash gate off Rue de Malte
A gate in the perimeter fence between a maintenance hangar and the cargo area, where almost every departure on 35 taxis past on its way to the holding point. The gaps in the gate are wide enough for any lens. Lighter aircraft sometimes use an earlier entry and skip you.
- Getting there
- 20–30 minutes on foot from the terminals: cross the bridge over the TGV line, pass the fuel tanks to the Ibis hotel, turn left onto Rue de Malte and follow it back over the railway toward the hangar. By car the route is the same. No shade, no facilities — the hotels have toilets.
- Best time
- 35 departures, afternoon until sunset. Arrivals on 35L suffer badly from runway heat haze.
- Lens
- 30–110 mm is enough for taxiing aircraft; around 110 mm for a 747 landing on 35L.
Raised bank off the D517E (west side)
A slightly elevated spot right at the fence on the western side, with benches, bins and a few trees for shade. It covers arrivals on both 17 runways and take-offs from 17R, and the height means you do not need a ladder.
- Getting there
- From the airport take the D517E toward Lyon Nord, cross the railway bridge and after a few hundred metres turn right onto a small lane that leads to the fence. Park on the grass verge. A determined walker can reach it from the terminal.
- Best time
- South flow (17 arrivals and departures), from around midday to sunset.
- Lens
- 100–400 mm.
Plateau by the Route de Crémieu
A low plateau beside a dirt track that runs parallel to the road between the approach path and the A432 bridge. It is the morning counterpart to the D517E bank: 17L and 17R arrivals plus 17R departures with the sun behind you, and you stand above fence height.
- Getting there
- Continue from the D517E spot to the first roundabout, turn right and follow the Route de Crémieu; take the dirt track and park at the roadside before walking up. Nothing at all on site.
- Best time
- South flow, sunrise until about 12:00–13:00.
- Lens
- 100–400 mm.
Le Belvédère (Colombier-Saugnieu)
A dead-end road on the approach side used for landings on both 35 runways. Only heavies are worth shooting on departure from here, but it is one of the few spots that also reaches line-ups on 35L and aircraft on the remote stands.
- Getting there
- Take the D29 following signs to Colombier-Saugnieu, cross under the approach path, turn left at the roundabout in the industrial park and continue to the end of the road. Bring water and food; there is some shade.
- Best time
- North flow (35 arrivals), roughly 06:00–12:00 in summer before heat haze builds.
- Lens
- Long: about 290 mm for an A318 on 35R, 150 mm for an A330, 440–500 mm for line-ups and parked aircraft.
Saint-Ours promontory (Janneyrias)
A small rise reached by a stone track outside the hamlet of Saint-Ours, with a view across both runways. Best when the 17s are in use in the morning, and it also covers departures on 35.
- Getting there
- From Janneyrias take the D124 toward Saint-Ours; just past the hamlet turn right onto the track and follow it to the promontory. Park beside the road, not in the fields — the land belongs to farmers.
- Best time
- Morning, 06:00–12:00 in summer, with 17 in use.
- Lens
- 300–400 mm (about 400 mm for an A320, 300 mm for a 777).
Fence by Rue du Portugal (cargo area)
Open field next to the fence near the Cargoport, overlooking the cargo and remote stands where freighters, charters and the occasional military or government aircraft park, plus arrivals on 35R/L. The stands are what make it worth the trip.
- Getting there
- Follow signs for the airport and then Cargoport onto Rue du Portugal; go straight on at the second roundabout, then right to the public car park by the truck stop and walk across the field to the fence. A ladder is essential here.
- Best time
- From about 14:00 to sunset, depending on how aircraft are parked; 35 arrivals suffer from haze in summer.
- Lens
- 18–100 mm for parked aircraft, 250–440 mm for 35R arrivals.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
The day is shaped by Air France's regional operation — Embraer 170/190 and A320-family banks in the morning, early afternoon and evening — alongside easyJet, which bases aircraft here, and Transavia. The North African network is a highlight: Air Algérie, Tunisair, Nouvelair and Royal Air Maroc fly in daily, with more frequencies in summer. Long-haul is limited, so an Emirates 777 or a transatlantic Air Transat flight is the widebody of the day. Cargo is growing, with DHL, FedEx, ASL and Qatar freighters, and Lyon occasionally takes overflow from Geneva. Military visits are irregular but varied: NATO C-17s, Middle Eastern transports and VIP jets.
What actually flew over Lyon in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- A320 28.4 %
- B738 21.1 %
- A319 12.6 %
- A21N 9.5 %
- A20N 9.5 %
- E170 7.4 %
- DR40 6.3 %
- A321 5.3 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Lyon?
Spotterra's live map shows every ADS-B-equipped aircraft over Lyon and the Rhône valley with type, registration and route. Open it in the browser — no account or install needed.
Can I spot at Lyon without a car?
Only just. The Rhônexpress tram gets you to the terminal, and from there the crash gate on Rue de Malte and, with a longer walk, the D517E bank are reachable on foot. Every other spot needs a car.
Which side of LFLL should I go to?
Mornings belong to the eastern side (Route de Crémieu plateau, Saint-Ours, Le Belvédère), afternoons to the western side and the cargo fence on Rue du Portugal. Check the active runway direction first — the flow swaps between 17 and 35 with the wind.
Spotterra watches the sky over Lyon
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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