Happy birthday, airport!
The first plane took off from Kloten 75 years ago. To celebrate the anniversary, Zurich Airport invites you to a three-day party at the beginning of September.
The first machine that ever landed in Kloten was the Swissair Douglas DC-4. The photo was taken at the opening of the airport on June 14, 1948.
Photo: Keystone
Zurich Airport opened in the summer of 1948 with the first flight of a Swiss-made Douglas DC-4 towards London. It was the beginning of a success story. More than 133,000 passengers took off from Zurich that same year, and the site quickly developed into Switzerland’s largest international transport hub. In 2019, a record 31.5 million passengers were handled.
Flughafen AG currently employs 1,700 people at the Zurich site. You are part of the airport family, which, together with around 30,000 employees from 300 other companies, cares about more than just smooth procedures and the safety and well-being of passengers. The opening of The Circle 2020 was another milestone for the airport as a business location and tourist destination. Many businesses, service providers, stores and restaurants have found a home in the area designed by Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto.
The circuit and promenade, together with the Tango stand, make for the perfect setting to celebrate the upcoming anniversary festival with great variety on the first weekend in September. The guests of honor are Federal President Alain Berset and Zurich Government Chancellor Carmen Walker Spah, who will attend the official ceremony on Friday evening.
party slogan? Around the world, of course!
Under the theme “Around the World,” musicians, bands and dance troupes will take guests on an entertaining journey into world cultures in the circuit and in the park throughout the three days. For example, there are African sounds by Max Urban, country music by Wolf, Greek beats by Sakis or Cuban rhythms by Trio Azucar. The baklava orchestra sets the mood for Balkan music.
Luca Hanni and the Airport Orchestra meet on the grand catwalk at the Tango stand. The 25-man band has been together for twenty years and has already released several albums; It brings together musicians who work in the cockpit, in the cabin, in management, in IT, technology, marketing, or with the fire brigade. “Each member of the orchestra contributes an individual musical style, which we combine to form a whole. The result is a multifaceted band that keeps reinventing itself,” explains bandleader Sandro Oberholzer.
How about a flight simulator tour?
Breakdance Champions compete in acrobatic dance battles in the circuit’s main arena; Action artists such as B-Boy CHO, the breakdance world champion, perform amazing dance performances in different styles. In the garden, on the platform of the sky, a circular chain awaits those who prefer to feel the wind in their hair when they fly high. Little ones can unwind in the bouncing castle in the tango area, and fun is on offer, with children’s parties, singing workshops, magic shows, and face painting.
Performing with the Zurich Airport Orchestra on Saturday afternoon and you should be in a good mood as always: Luca Hanni.
Photo: Mark Bremer
In the Tango Pavilion, the world of flight and the magic of flying can also be experienced up close. An airshow of Patroil Suisse with Helvetic Airways is, of course, a part of it. Since 1995, the squadron has flown the F-5 Tiger, a combat aircraft actively used in the Air Force. On Friday and Sunday afternoons, the pilots will demonstrate their skills with breath-taking maneuvers along Runway 16/34.
A large exhibition with aircraft and vehicles from different eras opens a door to the past.
Live displays at check-in and other operations make flight operations visible behind the scenes. A large exhibition with aircraft and vehicles from different eras opens a door to the past. The simulator shows who has the talent to fly. And if you are interested in aircraft technology, you can take a look at the shipyard for yourself. In the interactive course, you have to help yourself to the luggage from check-in to the plane.
The noise protection hall will also open to the public for the first time: there, too, guests will be offered an exhibition of aircraft. Engine tests are usually carried out in the building equipped with the latest technology. In addition, there are even christenings of two planes – Edelweiss on Friday and Swiss International Airlines on Saturday.
In addition to attractions for all the senses, culinary delights are also provided. In the grand marquee, in a variety of food trucks, grill stands and a sunset lounge, the palate is spoiled with specialties from around the world.
The countdown to an unforgettable festive weekend has begun at Zurich Airport.
This text is a collaboration between The Sunday Newspaper, Swiss Tourism and Zurich Airport.
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