Residents near Zurich airport have complained about noise emissions and increasing flight traffic for years.
Keystone
Federal aviation authorities have decided to limit the number of time slots for planes at Switzerland’s main airport in Zurich.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch with SDA-ATS; urs
The Federal Office of Civil AviationExternal link said it has ordered a freeze on landings after 9pm and for take-offs after 10:20pm to reduce the noise for residents living near the airport.
An official report from last September found that the noise was sometimes considerably above permitted levels between 10pm and midnight.
Regular monitoring has shown that noise emissions during day times are generally in line with official regulations.
The operators of the airport said they regretted the decision. They warned that such restrictions would limit the possibilities for further development of the airport, notably as a hub for intercontinental flights and connections to other European destinations.
The decision is subject to appeal.
In an ongoing controversy, Switzerland and neighbouring Germany have been trying to reach an agreement over noise emissions for decades. The airport is just 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) south of the German border.
Popular Stories
More
Foreign Affairs
How a top Swiss university is screening Chinese students
Two decades after tsunami, Swiss tourists flock to Southeast Asia
This content was published on
Twenty years after a catastrophic tsunami in Southeast Asia, the region is again a top destination for Swiss, including at Christmas.
Swiss forests better equipped for storms 25 years after Lothar
This content was published on
Twenty-five years after Hurricane Lothar wreaked havoc in Switzerland, the country’s forests are now better prepared, experts say.
Media: Swiss medical services done abroad are billed at Swiss rates
This content was published on
In Switzerland, some medical services carried out abroad are still billed at Swiss rates, despite costing less, RTS reports.
This content was published on
Sophie Hediger, a member of the Swiss national snowboard cross team, has died in an avalanche in Arosa. She was 26 years old.
This content was published on
Several Swiss films exceeded the 100,000 admissions mark worldwide in 2024 and received widespread praise at international film festivals.
Swiss Alpine resorts covered in white gold for Christmas
This content was published on
Many areas at low altitudes in Switzerland are enjoying a blanket of snow. In the mountains, intense precipitation has delighted skiers.
SWISS makes emergency landing in Austria after smoke in cockpit
This content was published on
Swiss International Airlines (SWISS) made an emergency landing of an Airbus in Graz, Austria on Monday evening after engine problems.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
German minister stalls airport accord
This content was published on
Peter Ramsauer announced on Monday that Germany still wants to discuss “open questions” not covered by the agreement, which was struck by the two governments in July after five rounds of negotiation. The agreement remains especially controversial in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg which experiences the most noise from airplanes approaching Zurich. Politicians from…
This content was published on
After five rounds of negotiations, Transport Minister Doris Leuthard said delegations from both countries had agreed on Monday a state treaty concerning flight noise. Flights over southern Germany heading to and from Zurich airport will be affected, with changes set to come into effect after required runway extensions, but at any rate by 2020. Evening…
This content was published on
Despite concerns expressed at the local level, the deal passed with 110 votes in favour and 66 against. Critics complained that it was a bad deal that yielded too much to Germany. The agreement, hammered out last summer by Transport Minister Doris Leuthard and her German counterpart, now awaits ratification by Germany’s parliament. It passed…
This content was published on
In a Zurich cantonal vote on Sunday 58.7 per cent of voters were against plans to block building new runways or extensions at Zurich airport. There was stronger opposition to a counter proposal that would have stopped flights over residential areas, with it rejected by 68.2 per cent of voters. Turnout for the vote was…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.