class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>
Last year, 28.9 million passengers flew through Zurich Airport. Passengers are among the ten best airports in the world. But Zurich can also become even better – and safer. To this end, two runways will be expanded. But this requires the green light from voters in Zurich at the beginning of March. Airport boss Lukas Brosi (45) welcomes the viewer to the airport to provide information on the spot about why he believes the runway expansion is necessary.
Blick: Mr. Brosi, in the voting campaign you mainly promote the expansion of the slopes as a safety measure. Does this mean that the airport is not safe today?
Lucas Brosi: Absolutely not! Aviation and Zurich airport are safe. But there is room for improvement. We have a complex operating concept with ramps of different lengths, some of which cross each other. The planned expansion helps with this. A federal report from 2012 already points this out. The current safety margin is therefore too small. We must therefore take measures to increase safety, stabilize flight operations and make ourselves less dependent on wind and weather. This increases punctuality when landing from the east and makes it easier to remain quiet at night.
If the federal government demands additional security measures for an infrastructure of national importance, does the canton of Zurich actually have a choice?
The federal government has recommended 30 measures to us, some of which we have already implemented. However, cantonal legislation prescribes that the canton must agree if slopes are adjusted in location and length. This is the case with the slope extensions. And that is exactly what we will vote on on March 3.
What would a no vote at the ballot box mean?
We should accept this democratic decision. But a no would be a missed opportunity to increase safety and improve processes, which I personally would very much regret.
Lukas Brosi (45) knows Zurich airport inside and out. The business economist has worked for Zurich Airport since 2009 and was head of finance and member of the management team from 2017. He was also responsible for sustainability and the environment. The airport has set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2040. Brosi was appointed as the new airport boss in May 2023. He lives with his family in the canton of Zurich.
Lukas Brosi (45) knows Zurich airport inside and out. The business economist has worked for Zurich Airport since 2009 and was head of finance and member of the management team from 2017. He was also responsible for sustainability and the environment. The airport has set itself the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2040. Brosi was appointed as the new airport boss in May 2023. He lives with his family in the canton of Zurich.
Hand on heart: Do you guarantee that you will always be able to sleep thanks to the slope extensions?
What we can guarantee is that the measure will improve safety and punctuality – and will not increase capacity. However, we simply cannot guarantee that there will be no more delayed flights in the evening. Situations such as wind or short-term problems will continue to occur in the future, leading to delays. But I would like to emphasize that in Zurich we close at 11:30 PM, not 11:00 PM.
But why is everyone always talking about eleven o’clock at night?
We are simply not allowed to plan any more flights in Zurich during the last half hour. But if delays have arisen during the day, we can resolve them before 11:30 PM without exception.
The opponents of longer slopes do not believe that you do not plan to expand the capacity. Ultimately, Flughafen Zürich AG wants to grow.
We shouldn’t confuse things. The vote on expanding the slopes is in no way about increasing capacity. Just because a runway becomes longer, no plane can take off or land anymore. In addition, federal regulations on noise protection stipulate that we may not plan further take-offs and landings in the evening, i.e. when applying the eastern concept. Due to the expansion of the slopes, there can be no increase in capacity.
But if the longer runways ensure that airport operations run more smoothly and planes can take off and land faster, there will be room for more flights. Not?
It is already the case that we could operate more flights during the day – regardless of the planned runway extensions. And again, the extensions only affect the eastern concept, which is mainly flown at night, where take-offs and landings, as I said, are limited.
Zurich Airport has three runways of different lengths that intersect each other. Following a safety assessment in 2012, it was recommended that runways 28 and 32 be extended. This increases the safety margin for the eastern concept, whereby the landing on runway 28 comes from the east. The concept is applied in the evenings and with westerly winds. Airstrip 28 is the shortest runway in Zurich. Thanks to an extension from 400 to 2,900 meters, the risk of aircraft overshooting during take-off or landing is reduced. Runway 32 will also grow by 280 meters to 3,580 meters. The people of Zurich will vote on it on March 3.
Zurich Airport has three runways of different lengths that intersect each other. Following a safety assessment in 2012, it was recommended that runways 28 and 32 be extended. This increases the safety margin for the eastern concept, whereby the landing on runway 28 comes from the east. The concept is applied in the evenings and with westerly winds. Airstrip 28 is the shortest runway in Zurich. Thanks to an extension from 400 to 2,900 meters, the risk of aircraft overshooting during take-off or landing is reduced. Runway 32 will also grow by 280 meters to 3,580 meters. The people of Zurich will vote on it on March 3.
Growth is not welcome for ecological reasons.
If we succeed in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we can look at things differently. The aviation industry is investing heavily in decarbonizing the economy. More efficient machines, higher capacity utilization and the gradual replacement of fossil kerosene with synthetic fuels are the way to achieve this. The aircraft manufacturers and airlines are responsible for the air. As an airport operator, we want to reach net zero by 2040. For this purpose, we are investing a three-digit million sum at Zurich airport.
If more and more sustainable fuel has to be added to conventional kerosene, flying will become more expensive. You’re not exactly happy about that, are you?
Making flying more sustainable is our responsibility. We cannot ignore that. We saw after the pandemic that people still want to travel. Our children will also want to see the world soon. That’s why it’s important to support aviation’s transformation to net zero – it’s part of the solution.
You don’t care if high airfares keep people from flying!
Flight prices are already about a third higher than before the pandemic – and yet the number of passengers is approaching pre-corona levels. We are already back at this level for passengers traveling for family reasons. People want to travel and the population in Switzerland is growing. This leads to a greater demand for mobility, including by road and rail. There is also a lot of demand for holiday travel. Passengers are not as price sensitive as you think. Even the number of business travelers is increasing again.
How often do you fly yourself?
Do business once a quarter. And for a family holiday once or twice a year – always from Zurich, of course.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
