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The airport hopes that the runway extension will provide more safety and stability. Opponents fear more flights.
Zurich Airport wants to extend two of its runways. Last fall, a narrow majority in the Zurich cantonal parliament also voted in favor of expanding the slopes. The referendum was held against this and will be voted on in the canton of Zurich on March 3rd.
Runway system at Zurich Airport: “You wouldn’t build an airport like that today.” This sentence is often used in connection with Zurich Airport. In particular, the crossing runways and the many crossing points in the air make the approach and departure regime complex. In addition, the concepts often have to be changed due to the weather. There are also restrictions due to aircraft noise.
In the evening, for example, from 9 p.m. on weekdays, flights from the north are no longer possible because Germany no longer allows flights over its territory. In this case, the so-called Eastern concept comes into play in the evening and depending on the weather. Take-offs then take place towards the north on runway 32. Landing takes place from the east on runway 28.
But both runways are not long enough for heavy aircraft. Particularly on the short runway 28, pilots of large long-haul aircraft do not want to land in all weather conditions, for example if the runway is wet. Air traffic control therefore has to allow it to land on the longer runway 34. This creates several crossing points in the air and also on the ground because runways 34 and 28 intersect. Air traffic control wants to avoid such intersections as much as possible.
This would change: With the extension of runways 28 and 32, all aircraft types could take off and land on all runways. In this way, short-term changes to the approach and departure concept for large aircraft could be avoided. Because large aircraft could also land on runway 28, residents in the communities to the east of the airport would be more affected by noise, while those in the south would be less affected.
This is what the proponents say: The supporters include the Zurich government and the parties SVP, FDP, Mitte and EDU. They particularly emphasize the safety aspect. Because all aircraft types could land and take off on all runways, there would be fewer unplanned runway changes and intersections.
Proponents also hope that flight operations will be more stable and punctual. Residents could also benefit from this. Thanks to shorter taxi times, heavy long-haul aircraft could take off earlier in the evening and night rest periods could be better observed. The extension of the runways does not lead to more flights being flown.
This is what the opponents say: The SP, Greens and AL are against the extension of the runways at Zurich Airport. The GLP has decided to release votes. Opponents do not believe that Zurich Airport wants to spend 250 million francs without being able to handle more flights in the future. The extension of the slopes is not only harmful to the environment, it also leads to more noise. The airport should not grow immeasurably at the expense of the population.
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Proponents vehemently deny that longer runways lead to more flight movements. But the opponents don’t trust it.
Keystone/Ennio Leanza
The airport has lost the trust of the population and repeatedly broken promises in the past. When it comes to safety, opponents emphasize that flight operations in Zurich are already safe today and that extending the runways is therefore unnecessary.