Roberta Aguirre
Switzerland is conveniently located in the centre of Europe, making its airports a popular choice for travel within the continent and beyond. The country is home to several international airports, including those in Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern, which are also the busiest airports in Switzerland. Zurich Airport, also known as Kloten International Airport, is the largest airport in Switzerland and one of the largest in Europe. It is equipped with all the facilities expected of a major airport, including lounges, free Wi-Fi, porter services, and family areas. Geneva International Airport, formerly known as Cointrin Airport, offers domestic, international, and cargo services. Basel is served by the EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, which also serves Mulhouse in France and Freiburg in Germany. Lugano Airport, the southernmost airport in Switzerland, offers seasonal and charter flights, as well as year-round domestic flights from Geneva and Zurich.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main Airports | Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern |
| Busiest Airports | Zurich, Geneva, Basel |
| Airports with budget flights | Geneva |
| Airports with no budget flights | Zurich |
| International Airports | Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern, Lugano, St. Gallen–Altenrhein |
| Airport with domestic flights | Geneva |
| Airport with no domestic flights | Genève Aéroport |
| Airport with the quickest procedures | Bern |
| Airport with the most ski resorts accessible | Lugano |
| Airport with the most shops | Zurich |
| Airport with the most restaurants and bars | Basel |
| Airport with the least shops, restaurants and bars | Lugano |
| Airport with the most play areas | Basel |
| Airport with the least play areas | Lugano |
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What You'll Learn
Zurich Airport
The airport serves Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, and with its surface transport links, much of the rest of the country. In the early years of aviation, the Dübendorf Air Base, located around 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) southeast of Zurich Airport, served as the city's commercial airfield. The first regular international flight service began on 1 June 1922, with an Ad Astra Aero route to Fürth, Germany.
In 1939, civil air traffic was suspended at the outbreak of World War II for military strategic reasons. In March 1943, the government of the canton of Zurich commissioned a study to identify possible locations to construct a major airport. A consortium of engineers and architects led by Locher & Cie recommended a separate civil airport in the partially forested moorland area between Kloten and Oberglatt. The Federal Military Department agreed to abandon the armoury in this location "in the higher national interest".
Locher & Cie submitted "Project I" to the Government on 31 December 1943, planning four runways and requiring 472 hectares (1,170 acres) at a cost of CHF 87 million. After revisions to reduce the cost, "Project III" was approved, meeting the requirements for an intercontinental airport. In June 1945, the National Council and Council of States approved the "Federal Decree on the Expansion of Civil Airports", granting the Zurich project intercontinental airport status and the highest possible subsidy rate of 35%.
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Geneva Airport
An interesting feature of Geneva Airport is the presence of Pier F, also known as the French Sector. This area was historically used exclusively for passengers travelling to or from France and continues to serve passengers arriving from French destinations who wish to exit directly to French territory, bypassing Swiss customs controls. The French Sector is a result of an agreement between France and the Canton of Geneva from the 1960s, facilitating travel between the neighbouring French region of Pays de Gex and the airport while avoiding Swiss territory.
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Basel Airport
Switzerland is conveniently located in the centre of Europe, making its airports popular gateways to the continent and beyond. The country's busiest airports are in Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.
The airport building is divided into two sections: Swiss and French. While the entire airport is on French soil and under French jurisdiction, Swiss authorities have the authority to apply Swiss laws regarding customs, medical services, and police work in the Swiss section. This includes the 2.5 km (1.6 mi) customs-free road connecting Basel with the airport. With Switzerland joining the Schengen Treaty in March 2009, the airside was rearranged to include a Schengen and non-Schengen zone. Passengers arriving from non-Schengen countries must approach the customs office of the country for which they have received the Schengen entry visa.
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Bern Airport
Switzerland's Bern Airport, also known as Bern-Belp Regional Aerodrome, is a small airport located just 10 kilometres from the country's capital, Bern. The airport is officially referred to as Regionalflugplatz Bern-Belp in German and has the airport codes BRN for IATA and LSZB/LSMB for ICAO.
In terms of airlines, Bern Airport has experienced some changes in recent years. SkyWork Airlines, which was once the largest carrier at the airport, declared bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2018. Helvetic Airways and Peoples Airways currently offer a limited number of flights during the holiday season, and Chair Airlines, another Swiss airline, has also started providing services to the airport. Additionally, the Swiss Federal Government's air transport service, Lufttransportdienst des Bundes, has based two business jets at the aerodrome.
Travelling to and from Bern Airport is convenient, especially for those staying overnight in Bern, as the journey by public transport from the airport to the city is included in the Bern Ticket. Two bus lines serve the airport: the AirportBus Bern (line 334) connects the terminal with the Belp railway station every half hour, and bus line 160 connects the airport with Belp, Rubigen, and Münsingen. From Belp railway station, passengers can easily access frequent S-Bahn trains to the Bern main station, with a total journey time of 30 minutes to reach the city centre.
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Lugano Airport
Switzerland is conveniently located in the centre of Europe, making its airports popular launching points for travel within the continent and beyond. The busiest airports in Switzerland are in Zurich, Geneva, and Basel, with Bern Airport also serving as a popular entry point for tourists. However, there are several other international airports in Switzerland, including Lugano Airport.
The airport has a single passenger terminal building, with airline ticket and check-in desks, airport security, and customs facilities. There is an airside departure lounge with a duty-free shop, bar, and snack bar. The ground-side facilities include a restaurant, a flying club, and an outdoor seating area between the terminal and adjacent buildings. Other ground-side catering and shopping outlets are situated around a nearby open courtyard. Lugano Airport has a single, bidirectional runway with an asphalt surface, and boarding is generally done on foot, although buses are sometimes used when the aircraft is parked further away.
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Frequently asked questions
The busiest airports in Switzerland are in Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. These are the main airports for tourists looking to access the top places to visit in Switzerland.
Zurich Airport is the busiest airport in Switzerland, with more than 22.5 million passengers flying from the airport in 2022.
Geneva Airport is the second busiest airport in Switzerland, with 14 million passengers in 2022.
Lugano Airport is the most southern airport in Switzerland. It is located several kilometres south of Lugano's centre.
The airport in Basel is called Euro Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, or Aéroport Bâle Mulhouse.
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