20 Airport of Zurich Noise Fund
Flughafen Zürich AG refinances all costs relating to aircraft noise through special noise charges based on the “costs-by-cause” principle. In the interest of transparency, costs and income relating to aircraft noise are recognised in a special statement for the Airport of Zurich Noise Fund. This is a liquidity-based fund statement. The fund statement presents the accumulated surplus or shortfall as at the reporting date arising from noise charges, less expenses for formal expropriations, sound insulation and resident protection measures, and noise-related operating costs. Its presentation is independent of the accounting policies. The key figures from the fund statement are shown in the table below.
If the fund statement shows an accumulated income surplus, this surplus is moved to a special investment account and invested by professional financial institutions, partly on the basis of a conservative, money market-oriented investment strategy and partly in a mixed investment fund. The income from these investments is credited to the fund statement.
The detailed fund statement is disclosed to a committee comprising representatives of Zurich Airport customers and the relevant authorities. The regulations of the Airport of Zurich Noise Fund and other information (including an overview of its financial development) can be downloaded from our website.
The balance on the Airport of Zurich Noise Fund changed as follows in the reporting period:
|
(CHF 1,000) |
|
2017 |
|
2016 |
|
Airport of Zurich Noise Fund as at 1 January |
|
457,924 |
|
471,744 |
|
Revenue from noise charges |
|
11,557 |
|
11,601 |
|
Costs for sound insulation and resident protection |
|
–17,320 |
|
–12,585 |
|
Costs for formal expropriations 1) |
|
–5,133 |
|
–11,406 |
|
Balance before operating costs and finance result |
|
447,028 |
|
459,354 |
|
Operating costs |
|
–3,295 |
|
–3,277 |
|
Interest income from financial assets of Airport of Zurich Noise Fund |
|
1,730 |
|
2,639 |
|
Adjustments to fair value of financial assets (available-for-sale-securities) |
|
264 |
|
1,532 |
|
Realised gains/losses on financial assets (available-for-sale-securities) |
|
–2,222 |
|
–2,324 |
|
Airport of Zurich Noise Fund as at 31 December |
|
443,505 |
|
457,924 |
1) In addition to compensation payments for formal expropriations, this amount includes other associated external costs (in accordance with regulations of the Airport of Zurich Noise Fund; see note 19, "Provision for formal expropriations plus sound insulation and resident protection").
Summary of assets invested for the Airport of Zurich Noise Fund:
|
(CHF 1,000) |
|
31.12.2017 |
|
31.12.2016 |
|
Cash equivalents (see note 16, Cash and cash equivalents) |
|
20,184 |
|
58,605 |
|
Fixed-term deposits (see note 16, Cash and cash equivalents) |
|
0 |
|
50,000 |
|
Current available-for-sale securities (see note 12, Financial assets of Airport of Zurich Noise Fund) |
|
76,578 |
|
47,136 |
|
Non-current available-for-sale securities (see note 12, Financial assets of Airport of Zurich Noise Fund) |
|
360,525 |
|
308,594 |
|
Accrued asset/(liability) towards Flughafen Zürich AG 1) |
|
–13,782 |
|
–6,411 |
|
Total assets invested for Airport of Zurich Noise Fund |
|
443,505 |
|
457,924 |
1) For accounting reasons, an accrual (deferral) towards Flughafen Zürich AG arises as of the balance sheet date. This is compensated in the subsequent month, so the balance of liquid funds is restored.
The table below presents an overview of the maturities and credit ratings of the assets invested for the Airport of Zurich Noise Fund:
|
(CHF 1,000) |
|
2018 |
|
2019 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2022ff. |
|
Total |
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
20,184 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,184 |
|
AAA |
|
23,010 |
|
8,108 |
|
7,420 |
|
44,535 |
|
71,560 |
|
154,633 |
|
AA+/AA/AA– |
|
30,438 |
|
8,147 |
|
|
|
|
|
41,581 |
|
80,166 |
|
A+/A/A– |
|
8,138 |
|
2,009 |
|
|
|
|
|
22,811 |
|
32,958 |
|
Without rating |
|
14,991 |
|
5,419 |
|
10,041 |
|
3,904 |
|
134,991 |
|
169,346 |
|
Other 1) |
|
–13,782 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
–13,782 |
|
Total assets invested for Airport of Zurich Noise Fund |
|
82,979 |
|
23,683 |
|
17,461 |
|
48,439 |
|
270,943 |
|
443,505 |
|
in % |
|
18.71 |
|
5.34 |
|
3.94 |
|
10.92 |
|
61.09 |
|
100.00 |
1) For accounting reasons, an accrual (deferral) towards Flughafen Zürich AG arises as of the balance sheet date. This is compensated in the subsequent month, so the balance of liquid funds is restored.
