Bern Airport: Does It Exist?

is there an airport in bern

The city of Bern, Switzerland, is served by the Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, commonly known as Bern Airport. The airport is located in the town of Belp and offers a limited number of seasonal and charter flights to European destinations. It is not a major international airport, and travellers to Bern often opt to fly into larger airports in Zurich, Geneva, or Basel and then travel to Bern by train or bus.

Characteristics Values
Name Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome
IATA BRN
ICAO LSZB / LSMB
Location Belp, Switzerland
Distance from Bern 6 km
Runway 1 paved runway (14/32 of 1,730 metres (5,676 ft)) and 1 grass runway (32L/14R of 650 metres (2,133 ft, as of 2017 inoperable))
Connections AirportBus Bern (line 334) and bus line 160
Airlines Helvetic Airways, Peoples Airways, Swiss Federal Government's Lufttransportdienst des Bundes, Chair Airlines
Historical Airlines SkyWork Airlines, bmi regional, RUAG

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Bern Airport is a regional aerodrome with limited flights

Yes, there is an airport in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. However, it is a small regional aerodrome with limited flights, known as Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome (IATA: BRN, ICAO: LSZB/LSMB). The airport is located within the town limits of Belp and offers a small number of seasonal and charter flights, mainly serving European local destinations.

The airport has a paved runway (14/32 of 1,730 meters) and a grass runway (32L/14R of 650 meters, inoperable as of 2017), as well as a heli-square and a glider area. The existing terminal was expanded in 2011 to accommodate flights to the non-Schengen area better. Bern Airport also houses the head office of Heliswiss and is the former home base of SkyWork Airlines, which has since ceased operations.

Due to the limited flights and proximity to larger international airports, such as Zurich and Geneva, many travellers opt to fly into those airports and then take a train or bus to Bern. The journey from Zurich Airport to Bern city centre takes about 75 minutes by train, with trains departing approximately every 30 minutes. Alternatively, there are two bus lines serving Bern Airport: the AirportBus Bern (line 334) and bus line 160, which connect to Belp railway station and surrounding areas.

In terms of historical context, there have been multiple attempts to build a larger international airport in or around Bern. However, these projects faced opposition, particularly from farming interests, and the national parliament ultimately decided to build Switzerland's first international airport in Kloten near Zurich.

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Zurich Airport is a 75-minute train ride from Bern

Yes, there is an airport in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. The airport, known as Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, is located within the town limits of Belp and is about 6km from Bern. It is marketed as Bern Airport but is officially referred to as Regionalflugplatz Bern-Belp in German.

The airport has a paved runway, a grass runway (inoperable as of 2017), a heli-square, and a glider area. The Biderhangar, one of the airport's hangars, was built by Swiss aviation pioneer Oskar Bider and is listed as a heritage site of national significance.

Bern Airport primarily serves Euro-local flights and has limited regular flights from/to nearby countries. It is the former home base of SkyWork Airlines, which has since gone defunct. Currently, Helvetic Airways and Peoples Airways offer a limited number of seasonal and charter flights during the holiday season.

For travellers from the United States, it is best to fly into Zurich or Geneva. Zurich Airport is located about 140km from Bern and is easily accessible by train. In fact, Zurich Airport has a direct train to Bern approximately every 30 minutes, with a travel time of about 75 minutes. The train connection is straightforward, with no changes or connections required.

Therefore, for those travelling from the US or other international destinations, Zurich Airport is a convenient option, offering a simple and quick train connection to Bern in just 75 minutes.

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Geneva Airport is another option, with a 2-hour train ride to Bern

There is an airport in Bern, the Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, which is located within the town limits of Belp. However, it is a small regional airport with a limited number of regular flights to and from nearby countries in Europe. It is mainly used for VIP transport, particularly for members of the Federal Council, and for other purposes such as deportations and international peacekeeping measures. The airport also houses the head office of Heliswiss and is the home base of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.

Geneva Airport is another option for travellers to Bern, as it offers a direct train to Bern that takes around 2 hours. This is a slightly longer journey than from Zurich Airport, which is about a 75-minute train ride to Bern, with trains departing every 30 minutes. Zurich Airport also has more flight connections, including from the United States. Travellers from the US can also consider flying to Basel, which has a fast train from the airport station to Basel main station, and then connecting to Bern.

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Basel is reachable by bus and then train from Geneva Airport

While there have been multiple attempts to build an international airport in or around Bern, the capital of Switzerland, the city is currently served by a regional aerodrome, the Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, also known as Bern Airport. It is located within the town limits of Belp and offers seasonal and seasonal charter flights.

Now, to answer your query about travelling from Basel to Geneva Airport:

Once you arrive at Geneva station by bus, you can take a train to Bern. The train journey from Geneva to Bern takes around 3 hours and costs between $90 and $200. This includes the journey from Basel to Geneva, so the total travel time is approximately 6 to 7 hours.

Alternatively, you can consider other options like driving, which is the fastest way to travel between Basel and Geneva Airport, taking around 3 hours.

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

The Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, commonly known as Bern Airport, is a small regional airport serving Bern, the capital of Switzerland. It is located within the town limits of Belp and offers a limited number of seasonal and charter flights to European metropolitan and leisure destinations.

The airport's facilities include two terminals, with the North Terminal previously housing the head office of SkyWork Airlines. The existing terminal was expanded in 2011 to accommodate flights to the non-Schengen area better. The airport is also home to the head office of Heliswiss and the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. Additionally, it serves as a base for the air rescue organization Rega, which operates a Eurocopter EC 145.

Bern Airport is accessible by public transportation, with two bus lines connecting it to nearby towns and offering connections to S-Bahn trains. The journey time from the airport to Bern city centre is approximately 30 minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, there is an airport in Bern, Switzerland. It is called Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, and is located within the town limits of Belp.

The airport codes for Bern Airport are BRN, LSZB, and LSMB.

The airline Chair Airlines, a Swiss airline, currently offers services to Bern Airport. Previously, the airport was served by SkyWork Airlines, but they have since gone defunct.

Two bus lines serve the airport: the AirportBus Bern (line 334) connects the terminal with Belp railway station every half hour, and bus line 160 connects the airport with Belp, Rubigen, and Münsingen.

Bern Airport is a regional airport with a limited number of regular flights to nearby countries in Europe.

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