Vadim Stepanov | aviaspotting.com
SPOTTING REPORT
The city of Kazan located at the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers, is on of the most beautiful and vibrant megapolises in Russia. The capital of the Republic of Tatarstan has a huge historical heritage, multinational culture and is developing at a very fast pace. In recent years, the city has been a venue for many major cultural, sports and political events. For example, Kazan hosted the Universiade in 2013, the Football World Cup in 2018, and the BRICS summit in 2024.
Kazan international airport named after a Volga Tatar poet and towering figure of Tatar literature Gabdulla Tuqay, has been reconstructed in the recent years and now is one of the biggest airports in Russia – after three airports in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg. In 2024 Kazan airport received 5,4 mln passengers, making it 8th in Russia and 86th in Europe. Kazan is a hub for Nordwind Airlines and the local airline UVT Aero. Of course, you can see other major Russian airlines and some international flight there.
During my recent visit to Kazan I took the opportunity to photograph planes at the airport, which became number 174 in my spotting list.
On the day I chose for spotting, authorities once again declared an air defense “carpet plan” due to the danger of drones attacks – while I was driving to the airport, planes stopped flying. Interesting times, isn’t it?
I spent a couple of hours at the terminals before the skies over Kazan were reopened. Fortunately, there was also something to see near the terminals. Firstly, the plane of the Sultan of Johor and the King of Malaysia, who began his visit to Russia from Kazan. The golden Boeing was parked near the second terminal, but it could only be seen through the fence.
And another interesting place on the square in front of the terminals is the Yak-42D, which once flew under the flag of the Kazan business jet operator Tulpar Air. Now Tulpar flies the CRJ planes, and the Yak-42 is standing as a monument in front of the airport hotel.
When flights resumed, I moved to the southeastern part of the airport perimeter, where I marked on the map several more spotting points among the rural fields. Not all of the points were successful – the most convenient place was at the end of runway 29, where the planes came in for landing. Here is a selection of pictures from there.
On the airport apron and parking lots, you can see something else interesting – the Il-76 military transport aircrafts, or one of the few Tu-214. Unfortunately, from the airport perimeter, these aircraft are very far away. For example, here is a Tu-214. This aircraft was built in 2009, flew for Transaero and Red Wings until September 2017. In 2023, it was restored at the Kazan Aviation Plant and transferred to Red Wings in the livery of the United Aircraft Corporation.
If you want to see the Ilyushins and Tus parked at distant parking lots, you can do this from the window during the plane’s arrival, if you take a seat on the left by the window. Unfortunately, I was sitting on the other side.
Well, that’s probably all. A map of the Kazan airport with the spotting points you can find in the Spotting Guides section.
Enjoy flying and go spotting!
See Also
Kazan Gabdulla Tuqay International Airport (KZN) Spotting Guide
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