A sustainable approach and improved passenger comfort. This is how the future pier A at Zurich airport. It will eventually replace the current "Dock A". The latter, built 35 years old at the same time as the control tower, is reaching the end of its life, according to the authorities. Pier A still handles most of the passenger traffic. In 2019, there were more than 100 aircraft movements per day and 6.86 million departing passengers.. This corresponded to almost 44% of all passenger movements in Zurich.
As it will be impossible to demolish it without seriously disrupting airport traffic, the authorities have decided to build a parallel pier to the north of the current Dock A. Before it disappears.
Wood, the main architectural element of the future Dock A
What will be totally revolutionary is the construction of this infrastructure itself. The new Dock A will be built largely from sustainable wood - from neighbouring forests. Wood remains an exceptional material for the construction of a terminal. In Europe, onlyOslo Gardermoen has made extensive use of wood in the design of its terminal and piers, one of which is completely covered in oak panels. In Asia, the only example to date is the new airport terminal of Cebu-Mactan in the Philippines, due to open in 2019.
In Zurich, the structure of Dock A will be punctuated by wooden arches and columns. Passengers will benefit from an almost transparent pier offering unrestricted views over the apron. Also with a view to reducing CO2 emissions at the airport, the entire surface of the roof of the new dock and the base of the dock will be used for photovoltaic panelscovering around two-thirds of the dock's annual electricity needs. The jetty will welcome Schengen and non-Schengen traffic. It will provide direct access to 22 aircraft in contact - compared with 17 at present.
The future Dock A will also incorporate the new control tower, located above an Atrium, which will resemble a chic shopping centre with its boutiques, restaurants and rest areas.
Comfort rather than extra capacity
On the other hand, it seems that the new structure will not significantly increase the terminal's total capacityestimated at around 40 million passengers a year. Traffic trends since the Covid pandemic have given the authorities considerable room for manoeuvre.
Zurich has seen its traffic decline dramatically between 2019 and 2021.. It has gone from 31.5 million passengers before the Covid pandemic to 8.3 million in 2020. Before going back to 10.23 million passengers last year. According to a spokesperson for the airport authority, Zurich is expected to welcome 20 million passengers this year and the 2019 figures will not be reached until 2025..
According to traffic forecasts, passenger numbers will then increase by around 2% per year, subject to extraordinary developments or events.
This is a sign that Zurich airport, whose capacity is tightly controlled by the cantonal authorities and the surrounding municipalities, is positioning itself as a key player in the global aviation market. A "niche hub" rather than a major mega-hub in Europe.
However, it will take time for the future new pier to see the light of day. The various planning phases have just begun. Opposition from the surrounding communities can be counted on to slow down the project. That's why the airport authorities are counting only on 2030 for the construction of this 701 million euros.
