Zurich - International Airport

11km/7mi north of Zurich city center, at Kloten (432 m/1,417ft) is Zurich Airport, one of the 10 largest airports in Europe. It is the headquarters of Swissair, the Swiss National Airline. The total area of the airport is some 800 ha/1,977 acres. Construction began in 1945, and by 1948 two runways were ready for service. There were major extensions in 1958, 1971 and 1980. There are now three runways in service each 60 m/197ft wide; the longest is the blind-landing runway (3,700 m/4,048yd). There are two terminals equipped with shops, restaurants and service facilities: terminal A (with multistory parking A) for European flights and services by TWA; terminal B (with multistory parking garage B) for intercontinental and charter flights. On the second floor of parking lot B is a large shopping area with a bank and a post office. Under the airport plaza lies the railroad station concourse and below this (18 m/59ft below ground level) four railroad lines with 420 m/1,378ft of platforms. Adjoining parking lot B is the bus station. On the radiating arm of terminal B is an observation deck, and also the departure point for bus tours of the airport and sightseeing flights. On the busiest days there are more than 500 aircraft arrivals and departures.

Zurich airport is connected by a rail link to the main railroad station downtown. Trains run every 20 minutes in both directions, with a travel time of 10 minutes.