Zurich Airport

Continent: Europe Country: Switzerland
Zurich Airport
Location Zurich, Switzerland
IATA code ZRH
ICAO code LSZH
Airport type Commercial
Website [www.flughafen-zuerich.ch www.flughafen-zuerich.ch]
Overview map [ ]
Communications
Tower 118.1
Ground 121.850 (North) 121.750 (South)
Clearance 121.800
Approach 118.000 (West via GIPOL)
120.750 (North/East) via AMIKI/RILAX
119.700
125.325 Final (rarely used):
Departure125.950
ATIS 128.525 (phone: +41438162294)

Zurich airport is the only airport of the city of Zurich, the Swiss centre of finance and economy. The airport is located about 10 kilometers northeast of the city and can easily be reached by car, bus or train.

Today there are about 100 airlines offering almost 150 connections to every continent in the world except Australia. 17.3 million passengers were handled in 2004. In 2003 the new terminal, terminal E, also called "Midfield", was opened. Three runways, most of which are equipped with an ILS-system are providing a smoothly running service.

Runways, Terminals and their usage

Runways

Runway:Length:Equipment:Usage:In use:Diagram:
 
102500m-Departing runway with winds from the east. No landingsrare 
143300mILSMain landing runway, no takeoffsalways
163700mILSMain departing runway for heavies, rarely a landingfrequently
282500mVORDMEMain departing runway, landings in the eveningalways
323300m-Departing runway in the morning, no landingsrare
342700mILSLanding rwy morning, sometimes heavy-TOsmedium


Because of many people living around the airport are complaining about the noise, the airport authority had to make a detailed concept of runway usage. It is listed in the following table. Of course changes can be made because of reasons like weather, so I recommend listening to the ATIS (128.525) before going spotting.


Weekdays (Mo-Fr)Weekend, public holidays in southern Germany
06.00-07.00Landing Rwy34
Departure Rwy32
07.00-21.00Landing Rwy14
Departure Rwys 16&28
21.00-00.30Landing Rwy28
Departure Rwys32&34
06.00-09.00Landing Rwy34
Departure Rwy32
09.00-20.00Landing Rwy14
Departure Rwys 16&28
20.00-00.30Landing Rwy28
Departure Rwys32&34


Terminals and parking stands

 
The terminal area. Cutout of Spotting-Points graphic below

At Zurich airport there are three Terminals, Terminal 1 (former A), Terminal 2 (former B), Terminal E (former Midfield).

In the table below is listed which airplanes can be seen in which area.

Terminal 1 (A) This terminal is mostly used by Swiss. Many longhaul flights (A332/A343) are being handled here aswell as some european flights (A32X, RJ). Besides Swiss sometimes other European carriers can be found here, for example BA.
Best view from: Spotting Points 1 and 2

Terminal 2 (B) Terminal 2 was closed when Terminal E was opened and the finger docks were demounted. Now this terminal is mostly being used to park longhaulers which stay for a longer time. For example SAA A342, Malasian B777, or the MNG A300F. On the southern side there are new stands for regional aircrafts (CRJs, ERJs, ...) which are served by bus. (Lufthansa, Alitalia, Air France)
Best view from: Spotting Point 1

Terminal E (Midfield) The terminal opened in 2003 is the point where all longhaul flights of foreign airlines are handled. (UAE, SIA, MAS, UAL, AAL, DAL, COA, ACA, KAL, SAA, JAL). Also there are some longhauls of Swiss (mostly to the USA) as well as most European carriers here..
Best view from: Spotting Point 2, but only the aircrafts on the western side of the terminal which is about 1/3 of all aircrafts.

Mike-Stands South of Terminal 2 there are the Mike-Stands (designated C and D but served by Taxiway Mike). These are stands served by bus. On these stands mostly medium airliners (A32X, B737, MD8X) von DLH, SAS, AUA and IBE can be spotted.
Best view from:: Spotting Point 1 (a little far away) and 5

Traffic

Because of Zurich being quite an important international HUB there are some interesting planes around waiting to be spotted. Besides the big european carriers which usually send their standard medium equipment to Zurich, many big carriers from other continents can be seen here arriving with their heavies. Some of these are: American, Continental, Delta, Emirates, JAL, Malaysian, Singapore, South African, Thai, United. In addition to that you have the Swiss lognhaul-fleet (9 A332 + 9 A343) as well as the heavies of local charter airlines Edelweiss (1 A332) and Belair (1 B763) which you don't see that often in Europe. To be up to date in terms of traffic the best thing is to have a look at the official online timetable which even displays the registrations!

Locations to Avoid

Location

Regular Traffic

Facilities and Transportation

Links

Until this article is finished, please take a look at the detailed spotting-description on www.planepics.org