Zurich Airport officials confirmed on 13 January that they expect roughly 1,000 additional flight movements in the week surrounding the World Economic Forum (WEF), which takes place in Davos from 19 to 23 January. The influx will be dominated by business jets, state aircraft, and helicopter shuttles supporting heads-of-state, Fortune 500 executives and security teams. Although the airport handled a similar volume during WEF 2025, operations managers say the compression of arrivals into an even tighter window—combined with stricter slot-allocation rules—will test apron capacity and air-traffic-control staffing.
To cope, Zurich will extend ground-handling shifts, reserve auxiliary stands at the military airfield in Dübendorf, and keep Observation Deck B open from 08:00 to 20:00 between 17 and 23 January so that public viewing does not interfere with secure zones. Jet Aviation will again supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel, allowing corporate flight departments to lower carbon footprints by up to 80 percent compared with conventional Jet A1—an increasingly important selling point for image-conscious multinationals.
As corporate travel planners juggle these operational details, they also have to secure the correct travel documentation for each delegate. VisaHQ can streamline the process of obtaining Swiss business or tourist visas with an online platform that handles application preparation, embassy appointments, and status tracking. Especially in the run-up to the WEF, the company’s Switzerland page (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers a quick way to confirm requirements and avoid last-minute complications at the border.
![Zurich Airport braces for WEF 2026 surge with 1,000 extra flights]()
Temporary security measures may close popular spotting mounds and pedestrian paths at short notice, but passenger flows in the terminal should remain unaffected. Advance passenger-information sharing between airlines and border-police units has been tightened; carriers that miss data-transmission deadlines risk losing scarce slots. Customs officials also warn that ad-hoc charter arrivals after 23:30 will face hefty noise-abatement penalties unless flights are medically or diplomatically exempt.
For mobility managers, the practical takeaway is to lock in slots, parking space, and ground transport as soon as delegate lists firm up. Hotels within two hours of Davos are reporting occupancy above 90 percent, and last-minute crew rooms near the airport now exceed CHF 400 per night. Companies sending multiple executives are advised to consider helicopter shuttles from Zurich or St. Gallen-Altenrhein to avoid four-hour road journeys through likely snow.
Despite the operational squeeze, Flughafen Zürich AG stresses that the event remains a showcase for Switzerland’s capacity to host high-level dialogue with minimal disruption. The airport’s decision to keep all commercial passenger facilities fully open underscores its commitment to balancing security, sustainability, and everyday connectivity.
To cope, Zurich will extend ground-handling shifts, reserve auxiliary stands at the military airfield in Dübendorf, and keep Observation Deck B open from 08:00 to 20:00 between 17 and 23 January so that public viewing does not interfere with secure zones. Jet Aviation will again supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel, allowing corporate flight departments to lower carbon footprints by up to 80 percent compared with conventional Jet A1—an increasingly important selling point for image-conscious multinationals.
As corporate travel planners juggle these operational details, they also have to secure the correct travel documentation for each delegate. VisaHQ can streamline the process of obtaining Swiss business or tourist visas with an online platform that handles application preparation, embassy appointments, and status tracking. Especially in the run-up to the WEF, the company’s Switzerland page (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) offers a quick way to confirm requirements and avoid last-minute complications at the border.
Temporary security measures may close popular spotting mounds and pedestrian paths at short notice, but passenger flows in the terminal should remain unaffected. Advance passenger-information sharing between airlines and border-police units has been tightened; carriers that miss data-transmission deadlines risk losing scarce slots. Customs officials also warn that ad-hoc charter arrivals after 23:30 will face hefty noise-abatement penalties unless flights are medically or diplomatically exempt.
For mobility managers, the practical takeaway is to lock in slots, parking space, and ground transport as soon as delegate lists firm up. Hotels within two hours of Davos are reporting occupancy above 90 percent, and last-minute crew rooms near the airport now exceed CHF 400 per night. Companies sending multiple executives are advised to consider helicopter shuttles from Zurich or St. Gallen-Altenrhein to avoid four-hour road journeys through likely snow.
Despite the operational squeeze, Flughafen Zürich AG stresses that the event remains a showcase for Switzerland’s capacity to host high-level dialogue with minimal disruption. The airport’s decision to keep all commercial passenger facilities fully open underscores its commitment to balancing security, sustainability, and everyday connectivity.
