Zurich residents fight aircraft noise

Residents around Zurich airport are demanding a stricter adherence to the airport’s operating times.

Under the rules, the airport should be closed between 11pm and 6am – but managers are allowed to authorize take offs or landing up until 11.30pm if it’s required to reduce delays. 

But last year, 100 movements were allowed outside the normal hours and locals have had enough.

A popular initiative has been launched to force the airport to comply with the rules more strictly.

The airport blames lack of staff, which has led to delays, as well as the problems of flights having to by-pass Russia – which is creating bottlenecks.

Campaigners have until April to collect enough signatures to get the issue on the ballot paper. 

More from Bitesize News

  • Citizenship remains one of the hardest on continent

    The Council of States has rejected a popular initiative that would have let foreigners apply for citizenship after just five years, closing the parliamentary door on the biggest attempt in years to loosen one of Europe's strictest naturalisation regimes

  • More gun crime in Annemasse

    Seven people are in French police custody after a shooting Monday evening at a drug-dealing spot in Ville-la-Grand, on the edge of Annemasse

  • Geneva land ownership change

    The canton of Geneva is set to become the sole owner of the land beneath Stade de Genève, buying out a parcel held by federal railways CFF for CHF 15.84 million

  • Agriculture warning after record breaking summer

    Farmers warn that another summer like this one would eat through their remaining reserves and force cuts to herds and crops

  • SNB interest rate stable

    The Swiss National Bank has kept its key interest rate at zero, sticking with a policy that has held since June 2025 even as oil-driven inflation ticks higher

  • Phone company going to court

    A Swisscom technician who spent 38 years at the company says he was fired for helping his 80-year-old neighbour cancel a subscription she never wanted

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play