Zurich Airport has confirmed that 32.6 million passengers used Switzerland’s primary international gateway in 2025, 4.5 percent more than in 2024 and slightly above the previous historic high of 31.5 million set in 2019. The figures—released on 17 January—mean that the hub has finally erased the last of its pandemic-related losses and is once again growing faster than overall European traffic.
Management attributes the surge to three factors: a strong rebound in North-Atlantic business demand, the continued popularity of Switzerland as a high-yield leisure destination, and the decision by SWISS and several Gulf and Asian carriers to add capacity rather than chase higher yields. December was especially robust (+7.3 percent), helped by Christmas markets and early-season ski traffic.
![Zurich Airport Posts Record 32.6 Million Passengers, Overtaking Pre-Covid Peak]()
Whether you’re finalising a corporate travel policy or planning a ski break, VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) can simplify the visa process for more than 200 nationalities. Its digital application tools and expert support teams help travellers secure the right documents quickly—an invaluable service as Zurich Airport’s record traffic drives up demand during peak periods mentioned in this report.
Operationally, aircraft movements rose 5.8 percent to 252 k, while average load factors climbed to 135.6 passengers per flight (+1.7 percent). The airport is accelerating a CHF 700 million pier-replacement programme and fast-tracking an on-site SAF blending facility. Executives say the record confirms the need for the long-planned “third midfield rapid-exit taxiway” to preserve punctuality as movements edge back toward the 300 k slot cap.
For corporates, the return of volume has already tightened prime-hour slot availability. Travel managers are being advised to book inter-continental itineraries at least four weeks in advance and to expect higher fares around the World Economic Forum (20-24 January) and Easter peak. Zurich’s figures also signal that Switzerland is again an attractive posting location for expatriates, with relocation volumes expected to mirror the airport’s growth in 2026.
Management attributes the surge to three factors: a strong rebound in North-Atlantic business demand, the continued popularity of Switzerland as a high-yield leisure destination, and the decision by SWISS and several Gulf and Asian carriers to add capacity rather than chase higher yields. December was especially robust (+7.3 percent), helped by Christmas markets and early-season ski traffic.
Whether you’re finalising a corporate travel policy or planning a ski break, VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) can simplify the visa process for more than 200 nationalities. Its digital application tools and expert support teams help travellers secure the right documents quickly—an invaluable service as Zurich Airport’s record traffic drives up demand during peak periods mentioned in this report.
Operationally, aircraft movements rose 5.8 percent to 252 k, while average load factors climbed to 135.6 passengers per flight (+1.7 percent). The airport is accelerating a CHF 700 million pier-replacement programme and fast-tracking an on-site SAF blending facility. Executives say the record confirms the need for the long-planned “third midfield rapid-exit taxiway” to preserve punctuality as movements edge back toward the 300 k slot cap.
For corporates, the return of volume has already tightened prime-hour slot availability. Travel managers are being advised to book inter-continental itineraries at least four weeks in advance and to expect higher fares around the World Economic Forum (20-24 January) and Easter peak. Zurich’s figures also signal that Switzerland is again an attractive posting location for expatriates, with relocation volumes expected to mirror the airport’s growth in 2026.
