Regional contribution

The Zurich Airport Group’s airports have an impact on the entire regions in which they operate. They are an important economic factor and play key roles in society.

Relevance

Approach and progress

Direct flights as a locational advantage

The Zurich Airport Group’s airports are active in different markets. For the largest airport by far, Zurich Airport, its role as a European gateway to the global aviation network is both a requirement of its operating licence from the Swiss government and is anchored in the company’s purpose. Fulfilling this mandate on behalf of the Confederation is an integral part of the company’s identity, both on a day-to-day operational basis and as part of its long-term infrastructure development. The direct European and intercontinental flights offered at Zurich Airport provide key locational advantages for the region and Switzerland as a whole. As a highly industrialised and service-oriented country, Switzerland is particularly dependent on its air transport networks. As well as bringing tourists to Switzerland, the excellent global links attract businesses to locate here and help them grow. Overall, excellent connections are a key factor in making the region a highly desirable place to live and work. Along with passenger transport, freight is also an important economic driver. The same applies – to varying degrees – to the sites with majority interests abroad.

Regional value creation

The international sites also contribute significantly to wealth creation in the regions where they operate. Notable investments of the Zurich Airport Group in 2025 included the construction of the new Noida Airport in India and the expansion of the aircraft stands at Iquique in Chile.

Zurich Airport Ltd. is considered a public contracting entity in the transport sector and is therefore obliged to comply with public procurement rules. This applies to contracts in the sphere of international treaties (GATT/WTO, including Bilateral Agreement I) as well as those in the sphere of non-international treaties. Procurements are put out to tender in accordance with federal law. Further information on this topic can be found in the Anti-corruption and Human rights sections.

Alongside the great importance to the economy, the company’s business activities also benefit the regions and countries where its airports are located thanks to the charges and taxes they generate. Since its privatisation in 2000, Zurich Airport Ltd. has paid dividends in the amount of CHF 647 million to the public sector and paid out a further CHF 963 million in taxes in Switzerland (to federal, cantonal, city and local authorities). In financial terms alone, its contribution thus amounts to CHF 1.61 billion over the last 25 years. The Swiss Confederation accounts for 19%, the Canton of Zurich for 54%, the city of Zurich for 5% and other towns and municipalities for 22%.

In the case of its international holdings and subsidiaries, concession fees for the operation of the airports concerned are paid to the respective governments. These fees are payable either at the time the concession agreement is signed or are spread over the term of the concession. Details can be found under Note 24.7, Concessions for the operation of foreign airports.

Transport hub, service center and leisure destination

Airports are much more than transport points for air travel. They are also destinations unto themselves, acting as multifaceted meeting places and centres for commerce and services. They play a key role in local residents’ day-to-day lives.

Zurich Airport furthermore functions as a central public transport hub for the area to the north of the city of Zurich, connecting to both local and intercity services. With around 450 train, 400 tram and 700 bus services daily, Zurich Airport is one of the best-connected locations in Switzerland. A statutory requirement in relation to access journeys to Zurich Airport stipulates a minimum proportion of public transport in the modal split. The results of the survey from 2024 were published in the reporting year. The target of 46% set for 2030 was already reached in 2024.

A number of different guided tours and bus tours – some of which are in cooperation with the partner companies – enables Zurich Airport Ltd. to offer a look behind the scenes. In addition, the observation decks enable visitors to experience flight operations up close. On average, some 260,000 people visit them each year. Conferences, business meetings and events of all kind are also held at the airport. The Circle and the adjacent park covering some 80,000 m² of green space provide further places for meeting up with people, exploring and relaxing.

With numerous cafés and restaurants, plane spotting locations and nature conservation areas, the extensive environs around Zurich Airport’s runways offer further recreational spaces that draw additional visitors. Zurich Airport Ltd. is keen to maintain these attractive amenities around the airport in future. Disputes continue to prevent the construction of a viewing platform known as “plane spottersʼ hill” in the west section of the airport.

The table below shows participant numbers for visitor activities at Zurich Airport.

The international sites are also service hubs and are positioned as leisure destinations where possible. In Brazil, Florianópolis Airport offers a leisure and entertainment area called Boulevard 14/32, featuring dining, shopping and events facilities. 154 events were held there during the year under review, attended by a total of 97,660 people. In addition, 965 visitors took part in 39 guided tours of the airport. The airport also houses basic public services on site. For example, there is an office of the traffic licensing authority for vehicle registrations and an outpatient health clinic in the former terminal building.

Partner in research and education

Collaboration with universities and companies involved in research is a priority for Zurich Airport Ltd. Employees at the Zurich site share their expertise and time with universities and institutions such as the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW), the University of St. Gallen (HSG) and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts for practice-oriented lectures, assisting with case studies or reviewing dissertations. Universities and organisations furthermore make use of Zurich Airport’s resources as a platform for hands-on research into new technologies, in particular for aviation-related topics, but also generally in various other areas. The collaborative focus here is on the development and utilisation of technologies and processes for improving operational safety and efficiency and on mitigating environmental impacts. To learn more about the company’s role in vocational training, see the Responsible employer section.

Sponsorships, non-profit activities and partnerships

With its sponsorship activities, Zurich Airport Ltd. sets an example of social commitment in the region. At the Zurich site, the focus is on the three areas of association life and culture, sport and sustainability.

Apart from monetary support, Zurich Airport Ltd. also provides contributions in kind as part of its sponsorship. The company furthermore has strategic partnerships with some individual organisations such as Switzerland Tourism, Zurich Tourism, the Swiss Museum of Transport and the Zurich Film Festival.

At its international locations, Zurich Airport Ltd. organises and supports community activities that benefit local people. In Brazil, these are cultural events and those of a social and educational nature, such as the “Água e Vida” project, which has been active for several years, and educational and awareness-raising work on ocean conservation with school classes. The activities are carried out at all Brazilian locations where the Zurich Airport Group has majority interests. Classroom instruction on the sustainable use of natural resources is just as much part of the programme as beach clean-up days. The project to protect coastal vegetation in Vitória continued to be supported with monitoring and protection measures after new plants had been planted in previous years to restore the original coastal vegetation. The Jiu-Jitsu project was continued in Macaé in the reporting year. It offers 60 children from the nearby Piracema district training in self-defence techniques. In Natal and Florianópolis, more than 225 children from disadvantaged communities were invited to tour the airport, a fun way for the children to learn about the exciting world of aviation.

At the Noida site in India, activities for the benefit of the local population were continued, partly in cooperation with local non-governmental organisations. While these activities enable the company to fulfil its obligation to conduct charitable projects, its commitment goes well beyond the minimum requirement. The first focus of attention is an educational programme offering advanced practical training for young adults, which 28 people completed in the reporting year. This commitment also included the procurement of new furniture for the technical school in Jewar, where the project was carried out. The second focus of attention encompasses six-month English courses for children at a school in Jewar, which benefited around 100 children. The third focus of attention is aimed at people who have been relocated by the authorities as a result of airport construction (see the Human rights section). Health checks and simple treatments were offered to 425 people in the reporting year. Moreover, courses were held to promote digital and financial skills, especially for women, as well as English courses. Once the airport is operational, further investments are planned in the areas of medicine, education, drinking water supply and road construction over a period of five years.