Bern's Airport: Does It Exist?

The Swiss capital of Bern is served by the Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, also known as Bern Airport. Located just 10km from the city centre, the airport is within the town limits of Belp. Bern Airport is a small regional aerodrome with limited regular flights to and from nearby countries in Europe. It is possible to fly into Bern Airport, although many travellers opt to fly into Zurich, Geneva, or Basel Airport and then travel onwards to Bern by train or bus.

Bern Belp Airport is 10km from the city centre

Bern Belp Airport: A Short Distance from the City Centre

Bern Belp Airport is situated just 10km from the city centre of Bern, Switzerland's capital. Its proximity to the city makes it a convenient gateway to this historic city and the surrounding region. The airport's location in the town of Belp provides easy access to Bern and other nearby destinations.

A Regional Aerodrome

Bern Belp Airport, officially known as Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, is a small airport serving the city of Bern. Despite its limited size, the airport offers direct flights to several European destinations, including Italy and Spain, as well as seasonal charter flights to holiday destinations. The airport is marketed as Bern Airport and has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1929 by the private airline Alpar.

Transportation Options

The airport is well-connected to the city centre through various transportation options. The AirportBus Bern (line 334) provides a convenient half-hour connection to Belp railway station, where passengers can easily transfer to frequent S-Bahn trains to reach Bern main station. The total journey time from the airport to the city centre is approximately 30 minutes. Additionally, bus line 160 connects the airport to Belp, Rubigen, and Münsingen, offering further connections to S-Bahn trains.

Exploring Bern

Bern, a charming Swiss city, boasts a compact size that makes it ideal for exploration by foot. The Old Town, in particular, is a car-free zone best discovered through a leisurely stroll. For longer distances or to reach suburban areas, Bern's efficient S-Bahn rail system provides extensive coverage. The city also offers a wide range of bus and tram networks, making navigation within and around the city a breeze.

A Gateway to Switzerland

Bern Belp Airport, with its proximity to the city centre and efficient transportation links, serves as a convenient entry point for visitors to Bern and the surrounding region. Its status as a regional aerodrome underscores its role in connecting travellers to this beautiful part of Switzerland. The airport's location just 10km from the city centre ensures that visitors can quickly reach their destinations and begin exploring everything that Bern has to offer.

The airport is small, with limited regular flights

The city of Bern, Switzerland, does have an airport—Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, officially referred to as Regionalflugplatz Bern-Belp in German. However, it is a small airport with limited regular flights.

The airport is located within the town limits of Belp and is only about 10 km away from the city centre of Bern. It is a regional aerodrome serving Bern, the capital of Switzerland. The small airport connects Bern with destinations such as Elba, Palma, and Menorca. It also serves direct flights from several European destinations, including Italy and Spain, and other seasonal destinations.

The number of regular flights to and from the airport is very limited. This is due to its small size and the proximity of larger international airports in nearby cities, such as Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. The airport handled 183,319 passengers in 2016, a decrease of 3.5% from 2015. The grounding of SkyWork Airlines, which was based at the airport, caused the aerodrome to lose more than one-third of its turnover.

Currently, Helvetic Airways and Peoples Airways offer a limited number of flights during the holiday season. Additionally, the Swiss Federal Government's air transport service, Lufttransportdienst des Bundes, has based two business jets at the airport. The airport also serves as a base for the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service operator, REGA, and two helicopter transport companies.

Due to the limited flight options at Bern Airport, travellers often opt to fly into larger nearby airports, such as Zurich or Geneva, and then take a direct train to Bern.

It's marketed as Bern Airport but is officially called Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome

The city of Bern, Switzerland, does have an airport, but it is a small regional aerodrome, officially called Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, and marketed as Bern Airport. It is located within the town limits of Belp, just 10 km from the centre of Bern. The airport has a limited number of flights to European destinations, such as Italy and Spain, and other seasonal destinations. It is used by charter operators, such as Helvetic Airways and Peoples Airways, who offer a small number of flights during the holiday season. The airport is also used by the Swiss Federal Government's air transport service, Lufttransportdienst des Bundes, which has two business jets based there.

The history of the aerodrome dates back to 1929 when it was established by Alpar, a private airline that operated within Switzerland until World War II. After the war, Alpar continued to operate the aerodrome with subsidies from the cantonal and city governments. Despite multiple attempts to expand the aerodrome or build a larger international airport in or around Bern, these plans were often met with opposition and failed to materialise. As a result, Bern-Belp remains a small regional airport, with Zurich, Geneva, and Basel serving as larger international airports for the region.

The airport has a paved runway, a grass runway, a heli-square, and a glider area. The existing terminal was expanded in 2011 to accommodate flights to the non-Schengen area. The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with the AirportBus Bern connecting the terminal to the Belp train station, where passengers can take frequent S-Bahn trains to Bern's main station. The journey to the city centre takes approximately 30 minutes.

The aerodrome is located within the town limits of Belp

The city of Bern, Switzerland, does have an airport, known as Bern Airport or Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome. The aerodrome is located within the town limits of Belp, just 10 kilometres from the centre of Bern.

Bern Airport is a small regional airport, officially referred to as Regionalflugplatz Bern-Belp in German. It is marketed as Bern Airport, but its official name is Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome. The airport has a rich history, dating back to its establishment in 1929 by Alpar, a private airline operating within Switzerland. Despite multiple attempts to expand the aerodrome and develop an international airport in or around Bern, it has retained its small size. The airport is easily accessible by public transport, with the AirportBus Bern connecting the terminal to the Belp train station, where passengers can take an S-Bahn train to Bern's main station. The journey to the city centre takes approximately 30 minutes.

The airport serves direct flights from several European destinations, including Italy and Spain, as well as seasonal charter flights to various locations. It is a base for several aviation organisations, including the Swiss Federal Government's air transport service, Lufttransportdienst des Bundes, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service operator REGA, and two helicopter transport companies. The airport also houses the head office of Heliswiss.

The aerodrome features multiple touchdown areas, including a paved runway, a grass runway, a heli-square, and a glider area. The existing terminal was expanded in 2011 to accommodate flights to the non-Schengen area. One of the airport's hangars, the Biderhangar, built by Swiss aviation pioneer Oskar Bider, is listed as a heritage site of national significance.

Bern Airport has multiple touchdown areas, a paved runway, a grass runway, a heli-square, and a glider area

The city of Bern, Switzerland, does have an airport: the Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, also known as Bern Airport. The airport is located only 10 km from the city centre of Bern. It is a small airport, with limited regular flights to and from nearby countries in Europe.

Bern Airport has multiple touchdown areas, including a paved runway, a grass runway, a heli-square, and a glider area. The paved runway, 14/32, measures 1,730 metres (5,676 ft) in length, while the grass runway, 32L/14R, is 650 metres (2,133 ft) long and has been inoperable since 2017. Runway 14 is equipped with an ILS approach and an NDB approach for training purposes only, which will be decommissioned in 2019.

The airport's facilities cater to a range of aircraft, including helicopters and gliders. The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service operator, REGA, has one of its bases at Belp, and two helicopter transport companies operate from the aerodrome. Additionally, there are two flying schools, one for motorised aircraft and the other for gliders.

The Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome has a rich history, dating back to its establishment in 1929 by Alpar, a private airline that operated within Switzerland. Despite multiple attempts to expand the airport or build a new international airport in the region, it has retained its small, regional status.

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