Basel's Unique Airport Setup: One City, Two Airports

Basel is served by the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, also known as Basel Airport. The airport is located in the municipality of Saint-Louis, France, 8km (5 miles) northwest of Basel, Switzerland. It is jointly operated by Switzerland and France and serves the cities of Basel, Mulhouse, and Freiburg. The airport has only one terminal building, which is divided into Swiss and French sectors. The IATA code for Basel Airport is BSL, but it is also referred to as MLH for Mulhouse and occasionally EAP for Euro Airport.

Basel Airport's location and transport links

Basel is served by the EuroAirport, also known as the Basel Mulhouse Freiburg Airport or Basel Airport. The airport is located about 3.7 miles/7 km northwest of Basel city centre, and is jointly operated by Switzerland and France. The airport is accessible by both the Swiss and French sides, and travellers are advised to enter the required location into their GPS accordingly.

The airport is well-connected to roads and public transport. The A35 motorway on the French side links up with the airport, and Switzerland's bus service Line 50 connects the airport with the Basel SBB railway station in the city centre. The bus ride takes about 17 to 20 minutes, and the bus departs every 7 to 15 minutes. From the Basel SBB railway station, travellers can walk or take public transport to the city centre. The French bus service Line 11 links the airport with the Saint-Louis train station.

For those travelling by train, the nearby Zurich Airport is Switzerland's largest airport and most intercontinental flights arrive there. Zurich Airport is located 12 km from downtown Zurich, and the airport train station is located at the lowest level of the airport building. It takes just 10 minutes by train to reach Zurich's main station, which is in the city centre.

Basel Airport's history and passenger numbers

Basel is served by the EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, located 3.5km (2.2 miles) northwest of the city. The airport is unique in that it is jointly administered by France and Switzerland and is located entirely on French soil, just 4.7km (2.9 miles) west of the tripoint of France, Germany, and Switzerland. The airport is officially known by three IATA codes: BSL (Basel) is the Swiss code, MLH (Mulhouse) is the French code, and EAP (EuroAirport) is the neutral code.

The history of the airport dates back to the 1930s when Swiss authorities recognised the need for a larger airport to accommodate increasing air traffic and new aircraft models. Plans for a joint Swiss-French airport began in this decade but were halted by World War II. Talks resumed in 1945 and construction began on March 8, 1946, with the first civilian aircraft landing on May 2 and the airport being inaugurated on May 8. The airport was built 4km (2.5 miles) north of Blotzheim, France, with France providing the land and Switzerland covering the construction costs.

Over the years, the airport has undergone several expansions and improvements. In the 1950s, a customs-free road was constructed, allowing access from Basel to the airport without passing through French border controls. The runways were extended, and in 1966, the airport buildings were completed. The airport was inaugurated in 1970, and since then, it has been systematically expanded and modernised. The cargo facilities have been expanded and upgraded over the years to meet the needs of the local pharmaceutical industry. The passenger terminal has also been enlarged multiple times to accommodate the steadily increasing passenger numbers.

In 2019, the airport handled 9.1 million passengers, serving as a base for airlines such as easyJet Switzerland and offering flights to European metropolitan and leisure destinations. The airport has a single terminal building with separate Swiss and French sections, reflecting its unique international status.

Basel Airport's terminal and facilities

Basel is served by three airports: EuroAirport, Zurich Airport, and Frankfurt Airport. EuroAirport is located entirely within French territory but is jointly operated by both France and Switzerland. It is also near the borders of Germany. Zurich Airport is Switzerland's largest airport and is located 12km from downtown Zurich. Frankfurt Airport is a major airport in Switzerland with direct trains to Basel.

EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg

EuroAirport is located 3.7 miles/7km northwest of Basel city centre. The airport also serves the city of Mulhouse, which is located 14 miles/22km away, and the historic city of Freiburg, located some 43 miles/70km across the border in Germany. The airport is jointly administered by France and Switzerland and is governed by a 1949 international convention. It is one of the few airports in the world operated jointly by two countries. The airport is located completely on French soil but has a Swiss customs border and is connected to the Swiss customs area by a 2.5km customs-free road to Basel, allowing air travellers access to Switzerland bypassing French customs clearance. The airport building is split into two separate sections: Swiss and French. The Swiss section is accessible only from Switzerland, and the French section is accessible from the French exit. The entire airside was rearranged to include a Schengen and non-Schengen zone when Switzerland joined the Schengen Treaty in March 2009.

EuroAirport has a single terminal building with four levels. The basement (Level 1) contains access to the car park, the ground level (Level 2) features arrivals facilities, Level 3 is the check-in area, and Level 4 has departure gates. The terminal has halls 1 to 4, with Hall 2 on the French sector and Hall 3 on the Swiss side. Transfer between the sectors is possible via a cross-border passageway. The gate area features gates 1–2, 20–46, 60–61, and 78–87, with gates 22–32 used for non-Schengen flights. Six of the boarding gates feature jet bridges, and the others are used for walk- or bus-boarding. The airport offers currency exchange, ATMs, unlimited Wi-Fi connection, a fuel station, duty-free shopping, parenting rooms, a kiosk, car hire booths, a service station, an SBB counter, hotel information, and a photomat. The EuroAirport Skyview Lounge offers showers, Wi-Fi, snacks, showers, TV, internet terminals, printers, and copiers.

Zurich Airport

Zurich Airport is Switzerland's largest airport and is located 12km from downtown Zurich. It offers many shops, car rental options, taxi services, a convention centre, hotels, and a healthcare unit. The airport is conveniently located, with the train station at the lowest level of the airport building. A train ride from Zurich Airport to Zurich main station takes just 10 minutes, and the station is located in the city centre. The airport also offers tram connections, with tram line 10 running partially parallel to the train line.

Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport is a major airport in Switzerland, with direct trains to Basel taking approximately three hours. The earliest train to Basel leaves around 07:51, and the last train departs around 21:52. There are also several bus networks that connect Frankfurt to Basel.

Basel Airport's car parking options

Basel is served by the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, also known as the EuroAirport. The airport is located on French soil, but it is jointly operated by Switzerland and France. The airport is located 3.7 miles (7 km) northwest of Basel city centre, and it also serves the city of Mulhouse, France, and Freiburg, Germany.

The EuroAirport has parking options on both the Swiss and French sides. The airport provides a map of the parking areas, which can be downloaded from its website. The parking areas are also marked by a guidance system to help visitors find their space easily.

Swiss Side Parking

The Swiss side of the EuroAirport offers express parking with direct access to the passenger terminal. This parking is free for up to 20 minutes, with a maximum stay of 4 hours. There are 250 spaces, including 4 spaces for disabled people and 4 charging stations for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

For longer stays, there are additional parking options on the Swiss side:

• Underground parking beneath the terminal with 410 spaces on 2 floors, including 6 spaces for disabled persons.
• Open-air parking about 100 meters from the terminal with 320 spaces.
• Open-air parking about 300 meters from the terminal with 450 spaces.
• Open-air parking about 500 meters from the terminal with 630 spaces.
• Open-air parking about 700 meters from the terminal with 1,490 spaces.

French Side Parking

The French side of the EuroAirport also offers express parking with direct access to the passenger terminal. Similar to the Swiss side, this parking is free for up to 20 minutes, with a maximum stay of 4 hours. There are 300 spaces, including 6 spaces for disabled people and 4 charging stations for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

For longer stays, the French side offers the following parking options:

• Underground parking beneath the terminal with 416 spaces on 2 floors, including 7 spaces for disabled people.
• Covered car park about 300 meters from the terminal with 2,700 spaces on 6 floors, including 15 spaces for disabled people.
• Open-air parking about 200 meters from the terminal with 700 spaces, including 10 spaces for disabled people.
• Open-air parking about 300 meters from the terminal with 2,700 spaces on 6 floors, including 15 spaces for disabled people.
• Open-air parking about 300 meters from the terminal with 700 spaces, including 10 spaces for disabled people.
• Open-air parking about 500 meters from the terminal with 1,320 spaces.

Basel Airport's accessibility features

Basel Airport, also known as EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, is located 3.5 miles northwest of Basel, Switzerland. It is jointly administered by France and Switzerland and has three IATA airport codes: BSL (Basel), MLH (Mulhouse) and EAP (EuroAirport). The airport is accessible by car via the A35 motorway on the French side and motorway A3 on the Swiss side. It can also be reached by bus or train.

EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg offers a range of accessibility features for passengers with reduced mobility. Ramps provide direct access to the passenger terminal from the car parks. Lifts are available inside the terminal to transport passengers to the various levels. Although there is no shuttle service between the car parks and the terminal, passengers can contact the airport's special assistance company, CGS, for help. It is recommended that passengers inform their airline of any specific accessibility requirements during the flight reservation process.

Basel Airport has a range of facilities, including car rental services, shops, restaurants and airport lounges. The airport's single terminal building has separate Swiss and French sections, with a Swiss customs border connecting the airport to Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions