Council objects to southerly flight departures from Zurich Airport

The Zurich city council has filed an objection to flights taking off from Zurich Airport over densely populated parts of the city, calling the noise pollution and safety risks “unacceptable”.

Zurich objects to proposed flight path changes

The Zurich city council has raised concerns about a change to Zurich Airport’s flight paths, arguing that residents will suffer from increased noise and safety risks, according to Watson.

The federal government wants to make changes to Zurich Airport operations as part of the Sectoral Plan for Aviation Infrastructure (SIL or Sachplan Infrastruktur Luftfahrt). Proposed changes include increasing fees for delayed flights leaving after 11pm and extending airport runways.

However, one aspect in particular is causing debate. The city council has filed an objection to planned southern takeoffs, known as “straight south departures”, which would mean planes can fly over densely populated parts of Zurich in certain weather conditions.

Southern departures over Zurich pose safety risk

According to city councillor Andreas Hauri (GLP), planes departing over neighbourhoods like Schwamendingen, Affoltern and Seebach would be “unacceptable” because they would increase noise pollution and pose safety risks if a plane were to crash.

13 municipalities from the cantons of Zurich, Aargau and Schaffhausen have also filed objections to the proposals, arguing “the burden [of noise pollution] must be distributed more evenly across all regions”. Currently, flights departing from Zurich Airport take off to the north or west to avoid flying directly over the city. 

The public consultation period ended on February 17, 2026, and cantons have until April to share further feedback on the SIL. Comments and objections are then reviewed and potentially incorporated into the proposal, which is then sent to the Federal Council for approval.