Have you ever thought of going to an airport for the purpose of sightseeing rather than travelling? That’s exactly what my friend George and I did.
Number 1 in Europe
Going by the number of passengers, Zürich Airport is Switzerland’s largest airport. This year, in a poll conducted by British consulting firm Skytrax, 8 million passengers rated Zürich Airport the best in Europe. Worldwide, Zürich Airport ranked fourth, behind Singapore Changi (third), Hong Kong International (second) and Incheon International near Seoul (first).
Guided sightseeing tour
Our guided tour started near the main airport building. We hopped on a comfy bus, or a coach rather, that drove us past enormous hangars, through airport service and maintenance quarters, along taxiways and runways, and even through a 73-hectare nature conservation area—all of it within the airport premises!
The whole time an experienced guide gave us a running commentary with lots of figures and facts on what we were looking at.
One of the tour’s highlights was when we could leave the coach next to two runways and watch one takeoff after another. Being so close to aircraft that take off at full thrust was exhilarating!
Observation deck
At the end of the tour we were given the option to visit the observation deck on top of Dock E, which is also known as Midfield terminal. Of course, we jumped at the chance!
Here are some photos George and I took on the day:
Lufthansa Boeing 737-530.
A guided sightseeing tour takes visitors to a fenced area next to two runways…
…where aircraft can be spotted close-up during takeoff and landing—here an Edelweiss Air Airbus A320-214.
Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A340-313X.
Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A340-313X.
Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A321-111.
Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A330-343X.
PrivatAir Boeing 737-86Q.
Air Berlin (Belair) Airbus A320-214.
KLM Cityhopper Fokker F-70 at landing.
TAP Portugal Airbus A319-111.
Pegasus Airlines Boeing 737-86N.
Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-231.
Observation deck on the roof of Dock E.
Dock E, aka Midfield, is Zürich Airport's newest terminal. It was inaugurated in December 2002.
Solar panels produce electricity and the rain is collected and fed into the terminal's toilet flushing system.
Here I am, spotting aircraft with Granddad.
Me and my friend George.
Dad & me on the observation deck.
Back to plane spotting. Here's the Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-231 again, taxiing to the runway.
NIKI Embraer ERJ-190-100LR.
Air Berlin (Belair) Airbus A319-112.
Aer Lingus Airbus A320-214.
Aeroflot Airbus A319-111. In the background, right above the aircraft's wingtip, you can see a bus. That's where we were before watching takeoffs.
Montenegro Airlines Fokker F-100.
British Airways Airbus A321-231.
Emirates Boeing 777-36N(ER).
Emirates Boeing 777-36N(ER).
Swiss International Air Lines Airbus A340-313X. In the background you can see the township of Kloten, the airport's hometown.
The end?
All good things must come to an end, they say. This was the last aircraft we spotted before the bus took us back to main terminal building.
It was a fantastic day, but by now means the end of it! Plane spotting made us really hungry and we went to have a meal and coffee at the airport. I’ll tell you all about it in my next article.
Bye for now, your Teddy Pumpkin
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Wonderful wonderful wonderful or maybe wunderbar !!
I wish I was there too.
Then I could also dressed in shorts like George’s Dad showing my suntanned legs.
I LOVE plane watching too.
I saw a Korean Air 777 land this morning at Auckland on my way to Nelson.
Clear skies right across the country today too.Thanks for sharing the photos with me, I really enjoyed seeing them, and I am going to visit Zurich airport too one day.
Bye for now
George G-
Thank you, George! Wunderbar indeed. I could make plane spotting a weekly event. And Zürich is so much more interesting than Nelson! Dad said I could stay in Switzerland if I wanted to. I thought about it for a bit; I would miss the beach though, and the rest of my family, and the nikau palms, and, and, and…
Perhaps, when you visit Zürich Airport one day, you could take me with you?
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Hi Pumpkin, George & their Dad Markus.
Great blog article, raised many memories of times past, thanks for sharing your outings and experiences. Hope you are all well, and starting to think of coming home? soon, as we really miss you. Spring is in the air and gardens, although it’s currently 2degrees, with high cloud, still lots a snow on the mountains, or should I say ‘hills’ given you are currently in real Mountain country. Please tell Dad I loved his ‘tramper’ article… and Jean from Cityfitness continues to ask after him, and is hoping like all of us, that he’s having a great holiday with family & friends…Kia Ora
ian-
Hi Ian, thank you for your regards and greetings, I’ll pass them on to Dad and the others.
Yes, we are all well and making most of our holiday. I try not to think about coming home, there’s sooo much to see and do up here!
It is getting cooler though, as Autumn is moving in. I don’t like the cold, hence the prospect of going home to Spring is a good one
Anyway, I must fly, on to my next adventure! I overheard Grandma saying something about a visit to a biscuit factory!
Bye…
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