The 75th anniversary celebration of Zurich Airport
77 years ago, on May 5, 1946, Zurich voters overwhelmingly said “yes” to the loan to build the current airport, thus laying the foundation stone for Switzerland’s largest national airport. Two years later, in 1948, Zurich Airport was officially opened, and this year it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Zurich Airport (IATA: ZRH), is the largest civilian airport in Switzerland and one of the largest in Europe operated by Flughafen Zürich AG. The airport, located north of the city, 13 kilometers from the center, serves as a hub for the airlines Swiss (Swiss International Air Lines) and Lufthansa and a base for Rega (Swiss Air Rescue Organization).
The airport has received the World Travel Award nineteen consecutive times since the year 2003 in the “First European Airport” category, proving to be the best airport in Europe.
Connections
The Zurich Flughafen train station is located below the center of the airport at check-in 3. Opened in 1980, it was one of the world’s first intercity airport stations and offers frequent connections not only to the city of Zurich, but also to many other locations including Basel, Bern, Biel/Bienne, Brig, Geneva, Constance, Lausanne, Lucerne, Munich (Germany), Romanshorn, St. Gallen, and Winterthur.
A bus station and streetcar lines are also located in the center of the airport. No. 10 leads to the city center.
The airport is served by the A51 highway and other major roads. There are more than 14000 parking places in six parking lots for both short-term and long-term parking and rest areas. Of course, several car rental companies are present at the airport.
The airport is served by a fleet of dedicated airport cabs, which operate from cab ranks in front of the arrival areas, and alternative chauffeured airport limousines can be arranged. The cost of these services, compared internationally, is one of the most expensive in the world.
Experience the history of the airport digitally
To mark the 75th anniversary of Zurich Airport, the history of Switzerland’s largest international transport hub has been presented in digital format. The website features several multimedia elements, including real tidbits from 75 years of the airport’s history, such as Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to the opening of the station or Pope John Paul II.
Zurich Airport has opened its archives, digitized them, and made them accessible on a multimedia website. This digital memory contains numerous photos and videos of formative events, construction projects, and personalities from all decades. Users can easily navigate through the years using the timeline and filter contributions by aviation, operations, or company themes.
Click here to access the digital history of Zurich Airport (in english)
In some 130 multimedia contributions, interested visitors can discover, among other things, how the former marsh area became a workplace for some 27,400 employees, how the buildings and runways developed, and why the Rolling Stones or jazz legend Louis Armstrong stayed at Zurich Airport.
SWISS to be the world’s first airline to use Synhelion solar fuel
SWISS adopts new AeroSHARK riblet film technology to further reduce its flights’ carbon emissions
Lauro, a dynasty of the sea between tradition and innovation
Stories from yesterday, today and tomorrow
In line with the anniversary motto “Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow. Moving with you,” the airport’s digital story highlights not only the past, but also the present and future of the airport. Topics include the new Dock A, which is expected to be completed in 2032, or Flughafen Zürich AG’s ambition to reduce its Co2 emissions to zero by 2040.
Other anniversary year highlights
On June 14, 2023, an event will be held on the spectator terrace to commemorate the first flight 75 years ago when the first plane took off from Zurich Airport for London on June 14, 1948. In addition, an interactive exhibition will be opened inside Airport Shopping on the same day, and from September 1 to 3, the big anniversary festival will take place with numerous events on the airport grounds, including the Circle and Park. More than 100,000 visitors are expected.
Shopping center
At Zurich Airport and The Circle, there are numerous stores, bars and restaurants, with a wide selection of brands, from Zurich and Swiss originals to world-famous brands, open 365 days a year, from early morning to late evening, making it a great shopping destination.
Future Zurich Airport
To ensure a safe, modern, and sustainable airport for future generations, several construction projects are underway to provide greater comfort, safety, and flight smoothness at Zurich Airport that will adapt the infrastructure to current needs. The most important is the replacement of fossil fuels with the goal of reducing Co2 emissions to zero by 2040.
Source: Flughafen Zürich