Decision on Runway Extension at Zurich Airport: Potential Impact on Bordering German Towns

Air traffic Decision on runway extension at Zurich Airport

An airplane lands behind signal lights at an airport. photo

© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa/symbol picture

Two runways are to be extended at Zurich Airport, one of them towards the German border. The cantonal parliament in Zurich will vote on the project on Monday. Among other things, runway 32 is to be extended by 280 meters. Right in the approach lane is the German town of Hohentengen am Hochrhein, about 13 kilometers from the end of the runway. More long-distance machines should be able to start on the runway in the morning and in the evening. During the day it is mainly used for landings.

Two runways are to be extended at Zurich Airport, one of them towards the German border. The cantonal parliament in Zurich will vote on the project on Monday. Among other things, runway 32 is to be extended by 280 meters. Right in the approach lane is the German town of Hohentengen am Hochrhein, about 13 kilometers from the end of the runway. More long-distance machines should be able to start on the runway in the morning and in the evening. During the day it is mainly used for landings.

The state government of Baden-Württemberg is against the project. “We fear that the number of take-offs and landings per hour will increase,” said the spokesman for the Ministry of Transport in Stuttgart, Edgar Neumann, on request. According to the airport operator, the extension of the Slopes with an increase in capacity nothing to do. It’s just more security. Likewise, delays and thus flight operations after 11 p.m. could be reduced.