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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Zürich Airport

Zurich, Zürich (Switzerland)

IATA: ZRH ICAO: LSZH

Longest Active Runway

12,139 ft

3,700 meters

Field Elevation

1,417 ft

432 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

47.4581°, 8.5481°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#162 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#248 of 7558

Top 3.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (Switzerland)

#2 in CH

#2 of 10 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+21.4%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Zürich Airport's longest active runway measures 12,139 ft (3,700 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #162. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #248 worldwide (Top 3.4%) and #2 nationally in Switzerland.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Zürich Airport (ZRH)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Zurich Airport is Swiss precision personified in civil aviation. Its three intersecting runways handle intense Swiss International Air Lines hub banks while balancing stringent bilateral noise agreements with neighboring Germany. Runway 16/34 provides 12,139 ft of paved surface for heavy long-haul departures over the Alpine foothills, supported by automated baggage routing and subterranean people movers.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Three-runway intersecting triangular layout: 16/34 (12,139 ft / 3,700 m), 14/32 (10,827 ft / 3,300 m), and crosswind 10/28 (8,202 ft / 2,500 m).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1948 in Kloten, replacing the older Dübendorf military airfield. Developed Terminal E (Midfield) in 2003, connected by the subterranean Skymetro shuttle.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Primary aviation hub of Switzerland, operating alongside EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL, 43 NM west) and Geneva (GVA).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Subject to complex German airspace noise restrictions, forcing complex curved southern and eastern approaches and strict evening runway usage rotations.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA Switzerland) · Skyguide Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP Switzerland)

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Zürich Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 1,417 ft (432 m MSL) in Zurich. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

2 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

Primary aviation hub of Switzerland, operating alongside EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (BSL, 43 NM west) and Geneva (GVA). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 2 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg (BSL) located 42.5 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 12,139 ft (3,700 m)

Zürich Airport's active flight strips comprise 16/34 (12,139 ft), 14/32 (10,827 ft), 10/28 (8,202 ft), 01H/19H (1,010 ft). With a longest active threshold of 12,139 ft (3,700 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
16/34	12,139 ft (3700m)	197 ft (60m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
14/32	10,827 ft (3300m)	197 ft (60m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
10/28	8,202 ft (2500m)	197 ft (60m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
01H/19H	1,010 ft (308m)	91 ft (28m)	`GRASS`	❌ Unlighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg (Bâle / Mulhouse)	`BSL`	42.5 NM (78.7 km)	12,795 ft	✅ Lighted
Stuttgart Airport (Stuttgart)	`STR`	78.7 NM (145.8 km)	10,974 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/zrh.json ↗