Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan has opened a new observation area for watching aircraft.

Built for people to wave off family, and watch them arrive, it’s also perfect for the enthusiast with its views over one of the runways and many of the parking stands at the terminal.

The area is believed to be indoors, which makes it sheltered and air conditioned, but it’s likely to mean photography is through glass.

Have you visited? What’s the observation area like?

Perth Airport in Western Australia has a brand new viewing area built with the aviation enthusiast in mind.

The special paved area, with shelter, seating and interesting information boards has been constructed alongside the main runway, and is very close to the action.

It is perfect for logging movements, and is great for photography.

The viewing area is open daily between 6.30am and 7.00pm (October to March) and between 7.30am and 5.30pm (April to September).  It is accessed from Dunreath Drive (the link road connecting the International and Domestic Terminals).  A signed entry point is located approximately half way along Dunreath Drive and car parking at the site is free.

Fantastic news for spotters visiting Perth! Have you visited?

Perth Airport is featured in Airport Spotting Guides Far East and Australasia.

Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport opened its new official spectator facility on 16 March 2010 on top of the new Terminal 2 building. Interestingly, this is the first official spotting location to be opened at any Chinese airport, and many hope this will pave the way for other airports to have such facilities incorporated – especially when new terminals and upgrades are built.

Terminal 2 is home to all domestic flights at the airport (apart from Spring Airlines), with international flights remaining at the older Terminal 1.

The new open-air spotting facility is on the 4th floor of the building with great views over the apron and runway beyond. It is 60 metres long and has a security check on entry.

To reach the facility, escalators from the check-in area will whisk you up in no time.

If you have any photos from this new facility, or experience from using it, please comment below.

Dusseldorf Airport’s railway station observation is currently closed. The whole building seems to be going through reconstruction. Sadly this is probably the best viewing area at the airport, but all is not lost since the observation deck in the terminal building is still open.

After a while of speculating the future of the viewing decks at Zurich Airport, which are invaluable spotting locations at this airport, I can now confirm that the original Deck B will close from October.

Deck E will remain open, with a shuttle bus ferrying passengers across to it every 30 minutes.

Keep an eye on the airport’s official website for more details closer to the time.

Thanks to Thomas Jaeger at CH-Aviation for this information.

Warsaw has become an easy low-cost getaway from many countries in Europe – particularly with airlines such as Wizz Air and Ryanair offering low fares.

Warsaw’s Frederic Chopin Airport is very spotter friendly if you stay within the allocated areas. It’s terminal building has an open air observation deck which gives views over the parking apron and runways. Reports state that most movements can be seen from here.

All visitors are subject to a meticulous security check on entering the observation deck.

Ticket price:
standard PLN 3,00
reduced PLN 2,00

Opening hours:
6.30 until 20.30

(Warsaw is covered in my new book – Airport Spotting Guides: Europe. Out soon!)

Christchurch Airport in New Zealand has had an excellent outdoor viewing deck for many years. This is now under threat, however, according to a report by Geoff Pierce.

Improvements to the terminal are likely to close the viewing area, with much more limited views only available from inside.

Geoff states: “I have been in touch with the Airport authorities on an irregular basis, since my last visit in 2006 and subscribe to the CHC redevelopment newsletter. The latest news received today, is that the
viewing deck will `probably` not be finally closing until around November 2009. (usual caveats apply)”