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Published 23 Jul 2026 · Updated 8 Sept 2026
Zurich Airport is Switzerland's main international airport and a key European hub. It handles over 30 million passengers each year, serving as a central connection point for SWISS and the Lufthansa Group.
How many passengers pass through Zurich Airport each year?
Zurich Airport handles over 30 million passengers annually, showing strong recovery and growth after the pandemic.
- The airport processed 32.59 million passengers in 2025, a 4% increase from 2024.
- The all-time record was set in 2025, surpassing the previous high of 31.51 million in 2019, before the sharp decline to 8.34 million in 2020.
- Recovery began with 10.23 million passengers in 2021.
- Passenger numbers then rose to 22.56 million in 2022, 28.89 million in 2023 and nearly reached the 2019 record with 31.20 million in 2024.
Types of Passengers
Zurich Airport functions as a fully international hub, as Switzerland's domestic air market is minimal due to the country's small size.
- Almost all passengers are international travelers. The airport acts as both a key destination for Switzerland and a transfer hub.
- In 2025, local passengers totaled 23.23 million (71.3%), while transfer passengers accounted for 9.31 million (28.6%).
- Other categories made up the remaining 0.1%.
| Passenger Type at Zurich Airport (2019-2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Local Passengers | Transfer Passengers | Others |
| 2019 | 22,231,195 | 9,209,982 | 66,515 |
| 2020 | 6,288,226 | 2,005,062 | 47,759 |
| 2021 | 7,739,188 | 2,439,168 | 56,072 |
| 2022 | 16,041,109 | 6,453,514 | 66,509 |
| 2023 | 20,236,952 | 8,584,766 | 63,788 |
| 2024 | 21,821,862 | 9,317,900 | 64,525 |
| 2025 | 23,226,058 | 9,311,454 | 56,454 |
What is the total number of aircraft operations at Zurich Airport each year?
Zurich Airport logs over 250,000 aircraft movements annually.
- In 2025, there were 270,116 takeoffs and landings, up 3% from 2024 but still 2% below the 2019 peak.
- Aircraft operations reached 275,329 in 2019 before dropping to 111,328 in 2020 due to COVID-19.
- Recovery followed with 132,600 operations in 2021 and 216,585 in 2022.
- Operations then increased to 247,456 in 2023, rising further to 261,103 in 2024.
Types of Aircraft Operation
- Passenger flights made up the bulk of operations in 2025, with 238,872 flights.
- There were only 816 freight-only flights, while general aviation and other operations totaled 30,428.
| Aircraft Operation Type at Zurich Airport (2020-2025) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Passenger Flight | Freight-only Flight | General Aviations and Others |
| 2020 | 80,555 | 2,526 | 28,247 |
| 2021 | 94,012 | 2,242 | 36,346 |
| 2022 | 178,438 | 1,115 | 37,032 |
| 2023 | 213,457 | 453 | 33,546 |
| 2024 | 229,044 | 515 | 31,544 |
| 2025 | 238,872 | 816 | 30,428 |
Which airlines operate the most flights out of Zurich Airport?
Swiss International Air Lines and the Lufthansa Group lead operations at Zurich Airport, which serves as their main hub.
- The Lufthansa Group handles 67% of total passenger traffic, including SWISS (52%), Edelweiss (10%), Lufthansa, and Eurowings.
- easyJet captured a 2% market share in 2024, surpassing both Lufthansa and Eurowings mainline services for the first time since 2019.
What are the monthly trends in passenger traffic at Zurich Airport?
Zurich Airport experiences clear seasonal variation, with summer being the busiest period.
- In 2025, July and August were the peak months, recording 3.27 million and 3.26 million passengers respectively.
- October followed with 3.17 million, and September had 3.05 million.
- January and February were the least busy months, with 2.08 million and 2.03 million passengers each.
How many routes are there at Zurich Airport?
- Zurich Airport offers direct service to 216 destinations as of 2025, making it one of Europe's most connected airports for its size.
- A total of 62 airlines operated at the airport, offering a broad range of destinations.
- European routes dominated due to strong business and leisure demand.
- Long-haul connections focused on major markets, especially in North America and Asia.
Which routes are the most popular at Zurich Airport?
Top European Destinations (2025)
- The most popular routes (origin and destination) at Zurich Airport are led by Spain with 3.56 million passengers, followed by Germany with 3.49 million.
- The United Kingdom recorded 2.28 million passengers, while Italy handled 2.05 million and Türkiye reached 1.42 million.
Top Intercontinental Destinations (2025)
- Intercontinental traffic at Zurich Airport is highest for North America with 3.03 million passengers, followed by Asia-Pacific at 2.02 million.
- The Middle East accounts for 1.65 million passengers, while Africa records 956,572 and Latin America and the Caribbean reach 470,476.
How much cargo does Zurich Airport handle annually?
Zurich Airport handles over 400,000 tonnes of cargo each year.
- In 2025, it processed 440,930 tonnes, a 1% rise from 2024 and 98% of 2019 levels.
- Cargo peaked at 493,200 tonnes in 2018, before falling to 451,827 tonnes in 2019 and 291,163 tonnes in 2020.
- Volumes rebounded with 393,062 tonnes in 2021 and 422,153 tonnes in 2022.
- Cargo then dipped to 377,998 tonnes in 2023 and rose again to 436,032 tonnes in 2024.
How much revenue has Zurich Airport generated each year?
Zurich Airport generates more than CHF 1 billion in revenue each year.
- Revenue reached CHF 1.21 billion in 2019, then fell to CHF 624 million in 2020 due to the pandemic.
- Recovery began with CHF 680 million in 2021, then rose to CHF 1.02 billion in 2022 and CHF 1.24 billion in 2023.
- In 2024, revenue hit CHF 1.33 billion, followed by CHF 1.36 billion in 2025, a 3% increase from 2024 and 12% above the 2019 record.
Related Statistics
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What are the notable incidents at Zurich Airport?
- 24 November 1990: Alitalia Flight 404, a DC-9, crashed on approach, killing all 46 on board.
- 10 January 2000: Crossair Flight 498, a Saab 340, crashed after takeoff, killing 10; attributed to pilot error.
- 24 November 2001: Crossair Flight 3597, an Avro RJ100, crashed near Bassersdorf, killing 24 of 33 on board.
- 15 March 2011: Two Swiss A320s received simultaneous takeoff clearance on intersecting runways, prompting a procedural review.
Other relevant facts related to Zurich Airport
- The airport has three airside piers
- Terminal A
- Terminal B
- Terminal E
- The airport has three runways.
- 16/34: 3,700 m (12,100 ft) in length
- 14/32: 3,300 m (10,800 ft) in length
- 10/28: 2,500 m (8,200 ft) in length.
References
- Zurich Airport Annual Traffic Data (FHZN 2024 Annual Report) · report.flughafen-zuerich.ch
- Aviation Safety Network — Notable Incidents at Calgary Airport · asn.flightsafety.org
