Which side of the plane
London Gatwick ⇄ Innsbruck: which side should you sit on?
The landing at Innsbruck, between mountain walls, is one of the most dramatic in Europe. Before it you pass Lake Constance and the Säntis.
London Gatwick → Innsbruck · 941 km · about 110 min gate to gate
Sit on the right · seat F
For the Black Forest, Lake Constance and the Säntis at cruise, and the Nordkette above Innsbruck on landings from the east (the common way in, according to pilots).
Likely Clear-weather estimate from the usual path. Actual routes vary by tens of kilometres.
What you will see
- ~58 min Black Forest (Feldberg)Likely on this side · about 67 km from the path R
- ~70 min Lake ConstanceLikely on this side · about 42 km from the path R
- ~71 min Saentis (Appenzell Alps)Likely on this side · about 78 km from the path R
- landing Zugspitze (Wetterstein)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Nordkette (Karwendel)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Hafelekarspitze (Nordkette)Depends on the runway in use either
- landing Innsbruck old townDepends on the runway in use either
- landing Bergisel ski jumpDepends on the runway in use either
- landing PatscherkofelDepends on the runway in use either
- landing SerlesDepends on the runway in use either
Take-off and landing
Leaving London Gatwick
Gatwick takes off towards the west about 70% of the time. Southbound flights cross the Sussex coast within minutes; the South Downs and Brighton can show on either side, depending on the departure route.
Arriving at Innsbruck
Pilots describe airliners coming down the Inn valley from the east and landing towards the west (from pilot accounts, not an official source). That puts the Nordkette and the old town on the RIGHT, and the Bergisel ski jump and the Patscherkofel on the LEFT. Landing from the west, the Nordkette is on the LEFT.
Sun side
| Departing | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | right | right | dark | dark |
| Summer | ahead | right | right | behind |
Where the sun is at mid-flight, by local departure time. “Low” means sunrise or sunset light on that side; the other side then gets the soft colours without the glare.
Innsbruck → London Gatwick · 941 km · about 110 min gate to gate
Sit on the left · seat A
For the Säntis, Lake Constance and the Black Forest in the first half hour. The Nordkette wall is above the airport on take-off; which side depends on the take-off direction.
Likely Clear-weather estimate from the usual path. Actual routes vary by tens of kilometres.
What you will see
- take-off PatscherkofelDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off SerlesDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Bergisel ski jumpDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Innsbruck old townDepends on the runway in use either
- take-off Hafelekarspitze (Nordkette)Depends on the runway in use either
- take-off Nordkette (Karwendel)Depends on the runway in use either
- take-off Zugspitze (Wetterstein)Depends on the runway in use either
- ~14 min Saentis (Appenzell Alps)Likely on this side · about 78 km from the path L
- ~16 min Lake ConstanceLikely on this side · about 42 km from the path L
- ~25 min Black Forest (Feldberg)Likely on this side · about 67 km from the path L
Take-off and landing
Leaving Innsbruck
The Inn valley runs east to west, with the Nordkette wall right above the airport to the north. Taking off towards the west, the Nordkette is on the RIGHT; towards the east, on the LEFT. Which way a given flight leaves is not published.
Arriving at London Gatwick
The final approach is over Kent and Sussex farmland, from the east about 70% of the time. There are no big landmarks on final.
Sun side
| Departing | 08:00 | 13:00 | 17:00 | 20:00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | behind | left | dark | dark |
| Summer | right | left | left | ahead |
Where the sun is at mid-flight, by local departure time. “Low” means sunrise or sunset light on that side; the other side then gets the soft colours without the glare.