Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Zurich Airport has been named the leading airport in Europe for the 19th consecutive year at the prestigious World Travel Awards. Meanwhile, the airport continues to be enhanced and modernized for another CHF 250 million.
Zurich Airport won the World Travel Award 2022 for Europe’s leading airport.
Unbeaten since 2004
In addition to customer satisfaction, the annual World Travel Awards evaluate the quality standards of products and services at and around airports in different categories via online surveys. Zurich Airport has been unbeaten in the category of best European airport since 2004.
Stephan Widrig, CEO of Flughafen Zürich AG, emphasized that such consistency is only possible thanks to good cooperation between all companies at Zurich Airport. “We are emerging from the biggest crisis in the history of aviation,” Widrig stated. “We are very pleased that we can convince you once again even during this time.”
The Circle
One reason for the continued popularity with customers may have been the new CHF 1.2 billion service center called The Circle. The complex opened in the fall of 2020 despite the pandemic and is an independent quarter at the head of the airport with stores, restaurants, hotels, and offices. The Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto designed the service center which is co-owned by Zurich Airport and Swiss Life.
But Zurich Airport is already developing beyond the Circle. A new baggage sorting facility is currently under construction. Also, to better handle the daily over 100,000 passengers, employees, and commuters, the airport shopping will undergo a multi-stage renovation starting in November. The project includes more spacious passenger routes, new retail spaces, and a food hall. The Circle will also be connected intuitively and seamlessly to the shopping area and be reached without getting wet.
The planned Food Hall will give users of Zurich Airport more culinary choices.
Better commercial offering
The new air shopping parts will feature generously sized shops of attractive brands and providers along the new passenger routes. The retail spaces will be expanded by around one-third. Spacious zones with seating will allow visitors to spend time and enjoy a better shopping experience at the Airport.
A twelve-meter-high food hall on two levels covering around 2000㎡ will offer a wide range of culinary choices at the heart of the landside traffic hub. About 15 different food stalls and food trucks with highlights from around the world will invite passengers and visitors to spend time at the airport and discover new food trends. The opening of the new retail areas and the food hall is planned for 2026 and is set to take place in stages.
Text: SCCIJ mainly based on the material of Zurich Airport; Pictures: Zurich Airport
