SWISS passengers to benefit from new look Zurich Airport

The grand opening marks the completion of the five-year Fifth Expansion Phase.

In addition to the new look airport, passengers can also avail of SWISS lounges on arrival at Unique Zurich Airport. SWISS offers travellers a Swiss First Lounge for first class passengers, Swiss Business Lounge for business and Swiss TravelClub Gold and Silver members, the VIP Lounge for high level private welcomes and the Allegra Lounge, which is available to all SWISS passengers, providing refreshment areas, showers and work stations.

Situated between Dock A and B, the Airside Center boasts an elegant design reminiscent of a curved wing. Among its distinguishing interior features are tall steel pillars and the amount of natural light it lets in.

Some 60 shops and restaurants offer a comprehensive range of traveller-friendly products and services. In addition to a wide assortment of tax-free and duty-free goods, the Airside Center is divided up into distinct zones that cover a wide range of needs.

In The Exclusive World travellers will find international brand names such as Emporio Armani, Bvlgari, Hugo Boss and Hermès along with renowned Swiss brands such as Navyboot. Rounding out the selection in this zone are Caviar House, Grieder Les Boutiques and the Pearl Bar.

Passengers with typical vacation travel needs will find what they are looking for in The Holiday and Leisure Zone, such as CD's and DVDs at City Disc, fashionable leisurewear in Cult, and trendy jewellery, sunglasses, toys, gifts and popular Swatch timepieces in other shops.

A third area is Best of Switzerland, which caters to the needs of souvenir hunters on their way home from Switzerland. Well-known domestic brands available here are Chopard, Davidoff, Heimatwerk, La Prairie, Sprüngli and Türler. No fewer than 20 different chocolate products are sold in this zone.

The dimensions of the Airside Center are impressive: 240 metres long, 40 metres high and up to 70 metres wide. Impressive steel columns bear the weight of the vaulted ceiling. The structural steelwork weighs some 8,500 tonnes, roughly equivalent to that of the Eiffel Tower.

In terms of surface area, the Airside Center shops and restaurants cover some 11,000 m². Directly beneath the Airside Center lies the SkyMetro station, where passengers en route to or from Dock E board or alight. The Airside Center accounted for some CHF 430 million, or about 20 per cent, of the total cost of the Fifth Expansion Phase.

With the opening of the Airside Center on September 15, passengers departing from or arriving or transferring at Zurich Airport will have at their disposal state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure that will make this part of their journey a memorable experience.