Business update

The 2025 financial year was characterised by continued high levels of travel, stable operations and investments in infrastructure, technology and sustainability. Under challenging conditions and during periods of heavy traffic, Zurich Airport was able to ensure reliable and high-quality operations. At the same time, progress was made in key development projects that lay the foundation for the long-term performance and future viability of the Zurich site as well as the international activities of the Zurich Airport Group.

Flight operations at the Zurich site

Flight operations in 2025 were characterised by persistently high demand and stable quality during busy periods such as Easter, the summer and autumn holidays and the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. The number of travellers once again reached over 110,000 on high-traffic days during the summer and autumn holidays and exceeded the 120,000 mark on certain peak days for the first time. Overall, just under 32.6 million passengers travelled via Zurich Airport – a new annual record. Air freight also increased year-on-year to around 441,000 tonnes.

With the summer and subsequent winter flight schedule for 2025/2026, the routes offered at Zurich Airport were further expanded, thereby reinforcing the international connections and competitiveness of the Zurich site. In the reporting year, for example, Zurich Airport was connected directly to 213 cities in 75 countries on four continents by 70 airlines. While Swiss, Edelweiss and easyJet offered new destinations in Europe, Edelweiss also launched two long-haul routes to North America: serving Seattle and Halifax. In addition, capacities were further expanded on numerous established routes. In Europe, the busiest destinations were London, Berlin and Istanbul. The metropolises of New York, Dubai and Bangkok continued to be the busiest destinations at the intercontinental level.

The annual meeting of the WEF in January 2025 was a challenging period for operations, marked by an increased volume of government and special flights. In March, Edelweiss celebrated the first landing in Zurich of the first Airbus A350 registered in Switzerland. Swiss followed suit in October with the commissioning of its first A350. This officially marked the start of both home carriers’ efforts to modernise their long-haul fleets in favour of quieter and more efficient aircraft types. The new, more fuel-efficient aircraft will contribute to reducing the noise of flight operations.

Procedures and general conditions

On 19 September 2025, the Federal Council approved adjustments to the Sectoral Aviation Infrastructure Plan (SAIP) for Zurich Airport, confirming the current operating hours while referencing the protection of vested rights. Operational measures taken by Zurich Airport Ltd., Skyguide and Swiss further improved the punctuality of flight operations in 2025. This resulted in a reduction in the number of flight movements after 23:00. Furthermore, an adjustment to noise charges was approved by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) at the end of March. It includes new noise classes, higher surcharges for late take-offs and an additional surcharge level for flight movements after 23:15. The changes will enter into force with the next charge period, but no later than the beginning of 2027, and will foster even more reliable operations in shoulder periods.

Moreover, negotiations regarding charges were initiated with the largest airlines and advocacy groups in 2025. An agreement was already reached at the beginning of 2026. The new charge period is expected to commence on 1 October 2026.

A milestone in operations was the assumption of services for passengers with reduced mobility (PRM) by Zurich Airport Ltd. with effect from January 2025. The affected employees were taken on from Goldair AAS Assistance AG.

Passenger processes and operational development

The continued introduction of automated baggage label printers (known as self-tagging machines) and the start of the comprehensive switch to new computer tomography (CT) scanners in security checks will enable faster and more convenient handling of passenger processes. From the summer of 2026, travellers will benefit from the possibility to leave liquids and electronic devices in their hand luggage. In addition, the maximum limit on liquids will subsequently be increased to two litres per container.

A key part of the infrastructure was successfully reactivated with the complete reopening of Check-in 1 following the refurbishment of the baggage carousels. Implementation of the new EU Entry and Exit System (EES) has been ensured on schedule. The system enables biometric registration of third-country nationals across Europe and places new demands on border processes.

Multiple awards received

Zurich Airport once again won several international awards in 2025. Both the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award and the World Travel Award for the best airport in Europe were won yet again. In addition, Zurich Airport achieved an outstanding tenth place in the Skytrax 2025 rating, making it one of the best airports in the world. All three prestigious awards – ASQ, World Travel Award and Skytrax – provide a comprehensive assessment of the airport. The continued focus on high service quality has thus gained international recognition. The airports we operate in Brazil also receive the highest customer satisfaction ratings. Florianópolis, Vitória and Belo Horizonte are ranked 1st and 2nd in their category.

Real estate and commercial centers at the Zurich site

The real estate business of Zurich Airport Ltd. was stable in 2025. Several major projects commenced or were continued as planned. The building with the Radisson Blu Hotel was also acquired as part of strategic real estate development. This will further strengthen the real estate business at the site, and all buildings in this central perimeter now belong to Zurich Airport Ltd.

The Circle consolidated its position as a business and service hub with over 5,000 jobs and an occupancy rate of over 90%. New tenants such as Confiserie Bachmann and Novu Campus complement the existing offering at street level. New office tenants were also added in the reporting year. Events such as the Spring Festival, the public screening of the European Football Championship, the Christmas Village and the “Zauberpark” festival resulted in a high number of visitors.

In the retail sector, combined landside and airside revenues recorded growth in 2025 – despite extensive construction work and closed spaces within construction perimeters. The pleasing trend in revenues is primarily attributable to new openings in the Airside Center. For example, the luxury offering was bolstered with a Cartier boutique, the expansion of Bulgari, the exclusive beauty formats of Chanel and Dior and another Haute Parfumerie. In Airport Shopping, ROOTS and a new Spettacolo location were added to the extensive catering options already available.

Zurich Airport Ltd. supported various organisations in connection with its charitable endeavours. In 2025, the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Allani Foundation were supported by the established “Charity Water” initiative. In addition, funds for SOS Children’s Villages, the Swiss Red Cross of the Canton Zurich and the WWF were raised through voluntary donations via the heart-shaped donation boxes placed throughout the airport.

Zurich Airport continued to be a popular excursion destination in 2025: around 265,000 visitors used the observation decks to experience the goings-on at the airport up close. More than 88,000 people took part in guided tours and bus tours.

Development projects and infrastructure at the Zurich site

The further development of infrastructure in 2025 was systematically aligned with the requirements of a growing international hub. The focus was on a broad mix of measures.

The “Development of landside passenger zones” project made visible progress. Excavation and concreting work continued with the aim of opening the first new spaces in 2027. As part of the refurbishment project for the baggage sorting system, the conversion of Dock E and the construction of the approximately one-kilometre-long connecting tunnel continued. Construction on the temporary module for accommodating displaced infrastructure during the construction period of the new Dock A is well advanced. Planning permission for the new tower has been granted by the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). Civil engineering work began as part of the expansion of the passport control hall. At the same time, preparations for the planned Oberhau multi-storey car park continued. In Zone West, work commenced on building new infrastructure for business and general aviation, and project planning for the maintenance hangar was completed. Construction of the new Rächtenwisen cargo building proceeded according to schedule in the reporting year. As planned, tenant fit-out can take place in 2026. The new freight infrastructure will be used exclusively by dnata Switzerland AG from 2026.

Various technological projects were further developed in connection with the ZRH Innovation Hub. These include the trial operation of autonomous buses on the apron, optimised boarding processes with new real-time displays and testing the use of converted luggage carts during operations to speed up processes and reduce the workload on employees. Moreover, a trend radar has been developed to highlight relevant macro and micro-trends and provide orientation for the future development of Zurich Airport.

At the same time, corporate processes continued to be standardised. An interdepartmental project team pressed ahead at full speed with the major internal “S4US” SAP project. The SAP S/4HANA rollout is a key component for establishing modern, cross-departmental operating methods and should help achieve sustainable improvements to processes, particularly in the areas of finance, purchasing, real estate and maintenance. The changeover to the new system is scheduled for 2027.

International airport business

Noida International Airport in the Greater Delhi area in India is about to receive its operating licence. This means that all relevant requirements for commissioning will soon be met. All necessary infrastructure has been created and contracts concluded with service partners in preparation for this. Commercial flight operations initially start with domestic and freight flights; international connections will follow at a later date. The airport is directly connected to Delhi and the surrounding economic centers via the Yamuna Expressway and rail links to be added in the medium term will improve its accessibility even further.

In Latin America, Zurich Airport Ltd. can look back on around a decade in Brazil, beginning with its involvement in Belo Horizonte. The Florianópolis (FLN) site recorded a new all-time high with over 1,000,000 international passengers, consolidating its position as the country’s third-largest international airport – behind São Paulo (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG). The new runway was completed at the Macaé site. Several new real estate developments were launched or realised in Vitória in 2025, contributing to the long-term diversification of revenue sources. Construction of new solar parks has begun at Natal and Macaé airports, each of which will cover large parts of the sites’ energy requirements in the future.

In Chile, preparations for the return of the Antofagasta Airport concession will be completed after the scheduled expiry of the contract period. At the Iquique site, progress was made towards expanding aircraft parking stands. This measure not only improves the infrastructure, but also the travel experience for passengers and supports the economic development of the region.

Climate and energy at the Zurich site

Important progress was achieved in the areas of climate protection and energy in 2025. Several measures from the master plan for energy and decarbonisation of real estate were implemented.

A visible sign of these efforts was the start of construction of the new energy facility in July 2025. Combined with a new low-temperature network and a seasonal storage system at a depth of around 300 metres, it enables the main airport complex (terminals and surrounding buildings) to be heated and cooled largely emission-free.

Collaboration with the Swiss cleantech company Synhelion continued as a further decarbonisation measure. At the airport, a passenger bus powered by solar diesel was used in regular operations for the first time in the world. Successful use in real conditions shows that synthetic fuels are compatible with existing drive systems and can be used without modifying vehicles or infrastructure. They therefore complement electrification, especially for special types of vehicles such as winter service vehicles that cannot yet be electrified. From 2027 onwards, Zurich Airport Ltd. will procure 30,000 litres of solar diesel annually from Synhelion within the framework of a five-year purchase agreement and initially use it for passenger buses at the airport. In doing so, it supports a pioneering company in the production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

In relation to alternative ecological measures designed to compensate for the unavoidable impacts that construction projects have on habitats worthy of protection, the revitalisation project along the River Glatt has been delayed. This is due to PFAS contamination in the soils previously used for agriculture and on the banks. As the legal treatment of soil contaminated with PFAS is not yet finalised, only the first phase of construction will be completed for the time being, and the remaining phases will await decisions from the authorities.

In the past financial year, Zurich Airport Ltd. successfully recertified its environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001 and also obtained Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) at Level 4 – the highest level achievable to date. These prove the effectiveness of the company’s environmental management as well as the measures it takes to reduce emissions. Zurich Airport can continue to count itself among Europe’s leading airports in terms of environmental and climate protection.

COACH values: the foundation of the corporate culture

The development of the company revolved around the promotion and upskilling of employees. Management development has also been further strengthened with the leadership programme, which focuses on values-based leadership.

Formats such as Future Day, Career Days and the participatory campaign “Take a seat for your future” were used to actively promote study and job opportunities at the airport.

The biannual employee survey also provided an important snapshot in 2025. It yielded valuable insights for further development at team and company level. The survey is based on eight questions and measures how the COACH values (Collaborative, Open, Agile, Committed, Human) are put into practice in day-to-day work as well as satisfaction with tasks and management. The results are evaluated promptly by the teams and translated into practicable improvement measures.

To continue addressing the requirements of the labour market in the future, Zurich Airport Ltd. is investing in a wide range of measures aimed at maintaining and enhancing its appeal as an employer. For example, Zurich Airport Ltd. introduced two extra days of holiday in 2024 and reduced the weekly working hours from 42 to 41 hours on 1 January 2025. This is a clear sign of commitment to work-life balance and modern working conditions.

These developments came in a special year for the company: in 2025, Zurich Airport Ltd. celebrated its 25th anniversary since its privatisation. The anniversary was accompanied, among other things, by a series of podcasts in which employees shared insights into formative events and personal experiences.