Planespotting Thessaloniki — LGTS
Makedonia Airport lies on the shore at Mikra, south-east of Thessaloniki, and is Greece's second city gateway. It has two crossing runways: 10/28, extended 1,000 m into the Thermaic Gulf to 3,440 m and in service since September 2020, and the older 16/34. The extension made 10/28 the main runway for jets, with many arrivals on 28 coming in over land from the east and departures turning out over the sea away from the city; 16/34 is still used depending on the wind, which often blows from the north-west. The field is shared with Mikra Air Base, home of the Hellenic Air Force 113 Combat Wing and the CL-415 water bombers of 383 Squadron, and that is the catch: spotters are not welcome here, police patrol the terminal area, and tension with Turkey has made the authorities even more wary. Only shoot from spots well away from the fence, never point a lens at the base, and expect to be questioned if you are seen.
- RJA126 A21N 32 975 ft
- AEE550 A20N 3 025 ft RWY 28
Conditions right now
Runways
- 10/28 RWY 28 2,436 × 49 m · 7,992 × 161 ft asphalt
- 16/34 2,417 × 60 m · 7,930 × 197 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
- Narrowbody76%
- Turboprop11%
- Bizjet4%
- Military4%
- Widebody3%
- GA2%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Go-kart track off the Nea Michaniona road (28 arrivals)
East of the airfield, along the road towards Nea Michaniona and Epanomi, a go-kart track sits under the approach to runway 28. Arrivals pass low and close, and you can shift position along the road to change the light. It is near the air base entrance, so this is a stay-in-the-car spot.
- Getting there
- From the terminal turn right at the first traffic light towards N. Michaniona – Epanomi, keep going until runway 28 is on your right and the go-kart track on your left, then turn left and park on the dirt outside. Shoot through the open window and do not wander towards the fence.
- Best time
- 28 arrivals all year; the far side of the approach works in the morning, the go-kart side in the afternoon.
- Lens
- 50–300 mm depending on where you stop.
Fields west of the seven-way junction (34 arrivals)
In the extended centreline of runway 34, open fields beside a dirt track signed "Geofil" give clean shots of 34 arrivals far enough from the airport to avoid most attention. You can cross to the other side of the approach once the sun moves round.
- Getting there
- Follow the N. Michaniona road past the air base gate (the one with the F-84 and F-5 gate guards), turn left at that traffic light, pass a boat storage yard and take the first dirt road to the right signed Geofil. Shops and fuel are on the main road to the north; restaurants in Neo Rysio to the east.
- Best time
- 34 arrivals from sunrise to noon, then switch sides for the afternoon.
- Lens
- 50–200 mm; an A320 is around 70 mm.
Hill on the 34 approach near Neo Rysio
A low hill under the 34 approach path offers both close shots of arriving aircraft from the top and wider panoramas of the airport and the gulf beyond. Being well away from the perimeter makes it one of the calmer places to spend time.
- Getting there
- Car recommended; it lies just west of Neo Rysio, near the field spot above. Only a hotel and a café nearby, so bring water.
- Best time
- 34 arrivals from sunrise to noon.
- Lens
- 70–250 mm; about 70 mm for a panorama.
Shoreline north of runway 16 (16 arrivals)
The only place to see arrivals on 16, which come in over the gulf from the north-west. It is far from the runway and shooting across water brings haze, so expect record shots rather than portraits — but on a 16 day there is no alternative.
- Getting there
- From the terminal turn left at the first big junction towards the city until a Lidl and an outlet mall appear on the left; turn back about 200 m and take the small road down to the sea, then follow the poor dirt track along the shore towards the runway.
- Best time
- 16 arrivals from sunrise to noon; haze builds quickly over the water.
- Lens
- 500 mm or more.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Aegean is the main airline, with Olympic Air and Sky Express adding ATRs and Dash 8s on domestic and island links. Ryanair has a base, and easyJet, Wizz Air, Eurowings, TUI, Condor and Jet2 fill the summer schedule from across Europe, alongside Balkan and Middle East carriers. Business jets use the Signature FBO. The military side is the real draw: Hellenic Air Force CL-415 water bombers of 383 Squadron are busiest in the fire season from June to September, with transports and occasional fast jets visiting Mikra. Keep any military photography to aircraft in the sky, shot from the public spots above.
What actually flew over Thessaloniki in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- A320 20.4 %
- B38M 18.5 %
- A20N 16.7 %
- B738 14.8 %
- AT76 11.1 %
- A321 9.3 %
- A21N 5.6 %
- C56X 3.7 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Thessaloniki?
Check Spotterra's live map: it tracks aircraft over Thessaloniki and the Thermaic Gulf in real time and shows type, registration and route — free in any browser.
Is planespotting allowed at Thessaloniki airport?
It is not prohibited as such, but the airport shares the field with Mikra Air Base and spotters are not welcome near the perimeter or terminal. Greek law treats photos of military installations seriously. Use the distant field spots, avoid the base and cooperate if police ask questions.
Which runway is in use at SKG?
Since 2020 the extended 10/28 handles most jet traffic, while 16/34 remains in use depending on wind. Spotterra predicts the active runway from the live METAR.
When can I see the water bombers?
The CL-415s fly most during the summer wildfire season, roughly June to September, often at short notice.
Spotterra watches the sky over Thessaloniki
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.
Start spotting freeMore in Southern Europe: Madrid · Barcelona · Palma de Mallorca · Tenerife South · Rome · Milan · All 204 airports →