Economic importance –intercontinental hub

Zurich Airport ensures Switzerland remains internationally connected. The daily direct flights to major cities in Europe and around the world are made possible mainly thanks to the hub operations that the airport runs together with SWISS International Air Lines. The greater Zurich area, other parts of Switzerland, and even southern Germany benefit greatly from excellent accessibility.

This degree of accessibility also has a positive impact on tourism in Switzerland. 22% of all foreign overnight guests travel to Switzerland via Zurich Airport. Tourists from distant growth markets, 70% of whom arrive via Zurich Airport, value the direct connections and incorporate them into their travel plans.

Air freight is also important to Switzerland as a business location and to the Swiss economy. Zurich Airport is the most important air freight location in Switzerland and processes just under three-quarters of Switzerland's entire air freight – these goods are almost entirely transported in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft.

Zurich Airport generates around the same amount of value as that of a medium-sized Swiss town. The CHF 5 billion corresponds to 3.5% of the GDP of the Canton of Zurich. The spending of income induces additional value creation of CHF 5.8 billion.

Zurich Airport not only guarantees good accessibility for Switzerland, it is also an important business location. It is a regional workplace center and an important client for local businesses.

Since its privatisation in 2000, Flughafen Zürich AG has invested on average CHF 1 million per working day in the expansion, maintenance and operation of the aviation infrastructure. Businesses in the region benefit from this as clients.