The motto of the big airport festival as well as the anniversary year is "Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow – in motion with you". A varied programme awaits guests on two event areas with an aviation exhibition, live shows on all aspects of flight operations, concerts, air shows by Patrouille Suisse with Helvetic Airways, dance performances and a children's program. The event areas are barrier-free and admission is free of charge. Food trucks, barbecue stands, a marquee and a sunset lounge provide delicious food and drinks at all locations. 

Special ceremony on the opening day 

On Friday evening at 6:15 p.m., the official ceremony will take place with the President of the Swiss Confederation Alain Berset, Government Councillor of the Canton of Zurich Carmen Walker Späh, Josef Felder, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Flughafen Zürich AG, and presenter and comedian Fabian Unteregger. Prior to the festive program, which is full of surprises, the airport orchestra will play a medley of its most popular hits from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.  

Fascination of Flying on Tango event area 

 In the aviation exhibition on the Tango event area, around 30 aircraft and helicopters as well as numerous special vehicles from different eras are available to discover and in some cases to try out. Part of the aviation exhibition is located in the noise protection hangar, which will be open to the public for the first time. Commented live shows about flight operations, two aircraft christenings and other demonstrations provide insights into the fascinating world of aviation. In hangar 3, various exhibitors will present what the future of flying could look like and present innovations for more sustainable flying.  

More about the program around the fascination of flying (german only)

Premiere: First air show with sustainable fuel  

A highlight will be the flight demonstration by Patrouille Suisse together with Helvetic Airways on Friday and Sunday afternoon. There will be a premiere at the airport festival: for these flight demonstrations, the Swiss Air Force will fly with sustainable fuel for the first time. Ten percent of this fuel will be added to the fossil kerosene in the tanks of the Tiger F-5 fighter jets. The use of this so-called sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one of the measures with which the Swiss Air Force is reducing its fossil CO₂ emissions, thus making a contribution to climate protection. 

Thanks in part to the commitment of Flughafen Zürich AG, this sustainable fuel is now being used for the first time at an air show. Flughafen Zürich AG aims to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040 and is committed to decarbonising the aviation industry as quickly as possible. That is why it is committed to the use of SAF in Switzerland and advocates the introduction of a blending quota for sustainable aviation fuels.  

Culture and enjoyment in the Circle and Park  

The Circle with the directly adjacent Park takes guests on a cultural and culinary journey "around the world". Just a few minutes walking distance from the Tango event area is this oasis with walking paths, forest, meadows and a sky platform with a special view. On the stage in the park, various musical and dance performances will take place throughout the day around the different of destinations at Zurich Airport. Various food trucks serve specialties from all over the world and guests can linger comfortably in the chapiteau tent. A highlight on this event area are the dance battles, where different dancers compete. These shows take place on the Circle main square.  

More about the program for culture and enjoyment (german only)

Children's program and festival feeling  

The airport festival also offers the youngest guests a varied program on all event areas. In the circus tent for children on the Tango event area, a special program runs all day long with face painting, a bouncy castle, clowns and magic shows. Various concerts will take place on the show stage at the Tango event area: On Saturday evening, Luca Hänni will perform with the Zurich Airport Orchestra. In addition, there will be children's concerts with the band “Marius von der Jagdkapelle” on Saturday and a singing and dancing workshop with the “Schwiizergoofe” dance coaches on Sunday. In the Circle and Park there is a jumping mat at Südplatz and a chain carousel on the sky platform.  

More about the children's program (german only)

Impact on flight operations  On Friday afternoon and Sunday afternoon, a time slot from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. has been reserved for the two half-hour flight demonstrations of Patrouille Suisse with Helvetic Airways. During the corresponding time window, there is little air traffic at Zurich Airport. Flight operations will be halted during the flight demonstrations, with the exception of airport taxi traffic.  The noise protection hangar is part of the Tango event area and will therefore be closed from Tuesday, 29 August, to Tuesday, 5 September, for the operation of engine run-up testing. If necessary and whenever possible, any run-up tests will take place on open stands or on the runway during this time.  In order to minimise the impact on passenger operations, observation deck B will remain closed during the festive season. Only invited guests have access to certain program items.  

Opening hours of the airport festival:  

Friday, September 1, 12:00 – 9:00 p.m. 

Saturday, September 2, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. 

Sunday, September 3, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

More information: www.flughafenfest.ch

Sponsors and partners  
The main sponsors of the airport festival are IG Flughafen Zürich and Zürcher Kantonalbank. Other sponsors include: 

Gold Sponsors: Dufry, Eberhard Unternehmungen 

Silver sponsors: Autogrill Schweiz AG, Baumann Koelliker AG, ETAVIS AG, Gategourmet, k kiosk, Lindt & Sprüngli AG, Marché, Marti AG, Specogna Bau AG, Select Service Partner (Schweiz) AG, Steiner Flughafebeck AG, Swissport International AG, Tissot, Walo Bertschinger AG 

Bronze sponsors: Beyond Gravity, Burkhalter Technics AG, Chair Airlines, Keller-Frei AG, Läderach Chocolatier Suisse, Reparatur- und Sanierungstechnik Nord AG, Sunrise Business 

 Airline Partner: Edelweiss Air, Swiss International Air Lines 

Supporter: Custodio AG, Implenia AG, MIGROS, show-concept.ch, VBG 

Media partners: Radio 24, Tele Züri, Züri Today 

Patrons: Basler & Hofmann AG, KIBAG Bauleistungen AG