New tower approved for Zurich Airport

The federal government has approved the construction of the new tower at Zurich Airport. The control tower is to be built from 2027 and will later become part of the sustainable new Dock A replacement building. This will not only modernize air traffic control, but also implement a forward-looking construction project.

The current tower was put into operation together with Dock A in 1985 and has reached the end of its service life after almost 40 years. The new tower is being built to the north of the existing site and will provide air traffic controllers with an optimized overview of ground and air traffic. Functionality, sustainability and workplace quality will be raised to a new level.

Part of a major project
The construction of the new tower is closely linked to the replacement construction of Dock A. Both projects were submitted by Flughafen Zürich AG 2023 and examined in a joint procedure. While the tower has now been approved in a partial decision, the process for the new Dock A is still ongoing. Until its completion, the tower will initially be operated as an independent building.

Focus on sustainability
The project is being led by architects Bjarke Ingels Group and is based on a construction method using wood as the main material. The roof of the new dock will be fully equipped with photovoltaics and is expected to cover up to two thirds of the electricity requirements. With an investment volume of around 700 million Swiss francs, the new Dock A replacement building is one of the most important infrastructure projects of the coming years.

Objections and outlook
Several objections to the project have been received, including from affected municipalities. According to DETEC, however, the construction itself will not lead to additional aircraft noise. On the contrary, emissions in the surrounding area could even decrease. Construction of the tower is scheduled to start in 2027 and the new Dock A is not expected to open before 2030. A third of all passengers at Zurich Airport use Dock A, so its renewal is seen as central to airport operations in the future.

With the new tower and Dock A, Zurich Airport is focusing on a sustainable and functional infrastructure that meets the increasing demands of air traffic and environmental protection. The project combines high-tech air traffic control with modern building culture, a strong signal for the future of Swiss air traffic.