Zurich-Kloten Airport intends to extend two of three runways. For this reason, a referendum was held. This has shown that the project has received the green light.

After the government council of the canton of Zurich in 2021 and the cantonal council in 2023 voted in favor of extending runways 28 and 32, Zurich voters are now also behind Zurich Airport and approved the security project at the weekend. 

Flughafen Zürich AG announced that it is now in a position to prepare the so-called planning approval application and subsequently submit it to the responsible authorities. “We are pleased about the clear approval of the important safety project to extend the slopes. We would like to thank the Zurich electorate for their trust and for their votes for a safe and stable Zurich Airport – also in the future. It is important to us to further strengthen the public’s trust in the airport,” explains Lukas Brosi, CEO of Flughafen Zürich AG. “The discussions leading up to the vote were a good opportunity for us to enter into intensive dialogue with the population. In many conversations we heard the needs and concerns of the people of Zurich. Even after the vote, dialogue with all stakeholder groups is and remains important. We are continuing to work on making operations at Zurich Airport more robust.”

Switzerland's largest airport is currently assuming that the project will cost around 250 million Swiss francs. The costs should be borne entirely by the operating company. Construction is not expected to begin quickly, as the referendum only set the basic direction. Now the bureaucracy follows, because Flughafen Zürich AG still has to formally apply for planning and building permits. According to the announcement, it is expected that the excavators will be rolling around 2030.