The EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg has decided to prohibit the operation of light and leisure aviation in the North Zone The airport's operations will be discontinued by the end of 2026 at the latest. The decision was made for operational and planning reasons. The infrastructure in this area, in use since 1967, has been economically unviable for years, as compliance with regulatory requirements would require significant investments and rising maintenance costs.
According to the airport, the necessary investments will not be amortized until the planned closure of the area in 2030. From this point on, the site will be used for the planned expansion and modernization project of the airport, the so-called EMT projectThis major project includes, among other things, an extension to the existing terminal. In order to utilize the airport's limited space resources, the areas will be used more specifically for commercial air traffic in the future.
Another reason for the decision is operational inefficiency. Operating commercial air traffic alongside light and leisure aviation requires increased coordination effort and has led to several incidents in the past. The suspension of operations in the North Zone is intended to increase operational efficiency.
This measure does not apply to business flights with Business jets are not affected, as they are not located in the North Zone. EuroAirport has held talks with the affected concessionaire, GAC Basel AG, to design a transition period and find a reasonable timeframe for terminating operations. The decision will have significant implications for the local aviation clubs that have long used the airport.