Zurich Airport kicked off the peak summer season on Saturday 12 July with an estimated 110,000 departing passengers – one of the busiest single days since the pandemic. Long queues formed at check-in and passport control as families headed for popular sun destinations in Spain and Portugal, while Asian long-haul routes to Bangkok, Singapore and Seoul were also “strong”, according to Swiss International Air Lines. In a stroke of good timing, the airport has just completed the roll-out of next-generation computed-tomography (CT) scanners at all security lanes. The machines allow liquids of up to two litres and electronic devices to remain inside cabin baggage, cutting average inspection time by 20 – 30 %. For business travellers, the upgrade means faster, less intrusive screening and fewer bins – a practical productivity gain when shuttling between meetings. The passenger surge is a bell-wether for Switzerland’s outbound mobility after two years of capacity shortages and high fares. Travel-management companies report that corporate bookings for July and August are 12 % above 2025 levels, helped by an easing of US-bound demand fears linked to trade tensions. Airport operator Flughafen Zürich AG warns that morning waves (05:30–08:30) will remain congested throughout July. It recommends arriving at least two hours before European flights and three hours before long-haul departures, even with Fast-Track access. Employers sending staff abroad should factor in the extra dwell time when scheduling onward connections and ground transportation. From a policy perspective, the passenger rebound will feed into Switzerland’s debate on night-flight curfews and carbon-offset obligations, both of which could affect future mobility costs.
Source: SWI Swissinfo
