Our corporate governance
Flughafen Zürich AG meets the guidelines of SIX Swiss Exchange and those of the Swiss Code of Obligations, and it also observes the Swiss Code of Best Practice for Corporate Governance recommendations issued by economiesuisse.
See the integrated report for more detailed information about our corporate governance.
Structure of the Group
The listed parent company Flughafen Zürich AG owns and operates Zurich Airport in Switzerland. All its international shareholdings abroad are held by its wholly-owned subsidiary Zurich Airport International AG. Both companies are headquartered in Kloten in the Canton of Zurich.
Strategic responsibility
The Board of Directors of Flughafen Zürich AG bears the ultimate responsibility for the company’s success and for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations. These duties are non-delegable and therefore apply to the whole board.
Election of the Board of Directors
Members of the Board of Directors are elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders for a term of office of one year. They may stand for re-election, although members of the Board of Directors are required to step down for age reasons at the General Meeting of Shareholders that is held in the year in which they turn seventy.
Role of the Canton of Zurich
The Canton of Zurich has a statutory right to appoint three of eight members of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors appointed by the Canton exercise their mandate with the same rights and obligations as every other member of the board. The Canton may issue instructions to its delegates in certain legally defined circumstances: this applies to resolutions by the Board of Directors relating to changes in the location or length of runways and to changes to the operating regulations that have a significant impact on aircraft noise exposure.