Planespotting Stockholm Arlanda — ESSA
Arlanda, 40 km north of Stockholm near Märsta, is Sweden's main airport and a second home base for SAS and Norwegian. It has three runways — the parallels 01L/19R and 01R/19L and the east–west 08/26 — and Swedavia uses them in changing combinations, usually one for landings and one for departures. Runway 08/26 is the favourite whenever the wind allows (landing 26, departing 08), while both parallels come into play only in strong northerly or southerly winds, so check the live map before you pick a side. Arlanda is unusually spotter-friendly: two official viewing hills with information boards overlook 01R/19L, and most fence positions are on mounds above the fence line. Summer is the season — at this latitude you can shoot from 5 am to past 10 pm — whereas winter leaves only a few hours of low light. Away from the terminals the spots are deep in the forest, with no shops or toilets.
- SAS113 A20N 12 900 ft
- SAS17G E195 2 775 ft RWY 01L
- SAS2728 AT76 2 225 ft RWY 08
- SAS82T AT76 175 ft RWY 01L
Conditions right now
Runways
- 01L/19R 3,297 × 45 m · 10,817 × 148 ft concrete
- 01R/19L 2,496 × 45 m · 8,189 × 148 ft asphalt
- 08/26 RWY 26 2,493 × 45 m · 8,179 × 148 ft concrete
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
- Narrowbody63%
- Widebody12%
- Turboprop12%
- Bizjet6%
- Cargo6%
- Military1%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Official viewing hill, Navigatörsvägen
One of Swedavia's two official spotting places: a hill with a free car park, information boards and a sheltered picnic table, giving a broad view over runway 01R/19L and taxiway W. Departures off 01R, arrivals on 19L and taxiing traffic are all in view.
- Getting there
- By car on road 273 towards Almunge/Norrtälje; after the tunnel turn left into Navigatörsvägen and park on the hill. Bus 806 from the terminals to Arlanda Styrmansvägen stop. No toilets or shops.
- Best time
- 19L arrivals from the afternoon; overall it depends on the runway combination of the day.
- Lens
- 70–300 mm, depending on where along the hill you stand.
Lindskrog — fence by the 19L threshold
Next to the second official hill near Halmsjön lake, an open area by the Lindskrog car park leads to the fence at the start of 19L. You stand on stones and mounds higher than the fence for clean 19L arrivals and departures; walking further along the fence brings 01R departures and arrivals turning off at the last exits.
- Getting there
- Road 273 towards Almunge/Norrtälje, then right after the 19L approach lights towards Lindskrog parking, but park on the free open area beside it. Bus 806 to Arlanda Lindskrog. Nearest facilities at the Good Morning Arlanda hotel.
- Best time
- From sunrise until noon, all year.
- Lens
- 90–210 mm; about 140 mm for a 737 on final.
Gravel hills south of fire station Östra (01R/19L)
A cluster of gravel mounds south of the eastern fire station with a view across runway 01R/19L and taxiway W, so arrivals, departures and taxiing aircraft in both directions are possible. The mounds are construction material and may be moved or removed — check the area is still accessible.
- Getting there
- By car south on road 273 and off towards car parks Alfa and Beta, then along the road past the fire station; park on the roadside and walk through the planted strip. Free car-park shuttle to the Alfa stop if you have no car. Two hotels about 500 m away.
- Best time
- From afternoon to sunset, all year.
- Lens
- 100–200 mm.
Stones by the 01L threshold, road to Cargo City
West of the airport, on the road towards Cargo City, a short path from a parking bay leads to a rock outcrop overlooking the 01L threshold. Ideal for 01L arrivals, with line-ups visible far off through the heat haze. When the sun swings round, cross to the other side of the approach.
- Getting there
- By car, following signs for Cargo City; after crossing under the 01L approach stop in the small bay on the left and walk 2–3 minutes north. Nothing nearby.
- Best time
- 01L arrivals all day — change sides of the approach with the sun.
- Lens
- 130–150 mm for a 737 or CRJ900.
Brandkåren Attunda fire station (01L/19R)
A raised position by the western fence near the Attunda fire brigade station, looking along runway 01L/19R. It works for both arrivals and departures on 01L, and walking north along the fence varies the angle. You stand above the fence, so no ladder.
- Getting there
- Follow signs to Cargo City; after the roundabout turn left following 'Brandkåren Attunda' and continue about 1 km north. Park on the left by the hall and walk to the fence.
- Best time
- From afternoon until sunset, all year.
- Lens
- 100–300 mm; about 105 mm for a 737-800, 170 mm for an A220.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
SAS and Norwegian run the bulk of flights with A320neos, 737s and SAS's long-haul A330s and A350s, joined by the usual European flag and low-cost carriers. Long-haul variety includes Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, Ethiopian, Air India, China Eastern and Turkish Airlines. Domestic regional operators add a Scandinavian touch, with Fokker 50s, ATRs and Saab 340s on routes to northern Sweden. Business jets and freighters work from the western cargo area. Summer charters to the Mediterranean swell the schedule from June to August.
What actually flew over Stockholm Arlanda in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- A20N 24 %
- AT76 20 %
- B738 16 %
- A139 8 %
- B38M 8 %
- A319 8 %
- A21N 8 %
- CRJ9 8 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Stockholm Arlanda?
Spotterra's live map shows every ADS-B-equipped aircraft around Arlanda in real time with type, registration and route — free and in the browser, so you can tell which runway is busy before you drive out.
Does Arlanda have official spotting places?
Yes, two hills with information boards on the east side, overlooking runway 01R/19L: one off Navigatörsvägen and one by Halmsjön near Lindskrog. Both have free parking and are reachable by bus 806.
Which runway is in use at ESSA?
It is hard to predict. Runway 08/26 is preferred when the wind allows, usually with one parallel runway for the other role. Both 01/19 runways are used together only in strong north or south winds. Check Spotterra or the ATIS, and look at NOTAMs for runway closures — 01R/19L has had long maintenance closures.
Is scanning ATC allowed in Sweden?
Listening to airband with a scanner is permitted in Sweden, which helps you hear when Arlanda switches runways.
Spotterra watches the sky over Stockholm Arlanda
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