Airline personnel deem Zurich airport safer than both Geneva and Basel airports, according to ratings.
In an ongoing effort to improve safety standards in the aviation industry, Aeropers, a Swiss pilots' association, has joined forces with the German Pilots' Association (Vereinigung Cockpit) to conduct annual safety assessments at Zurich, Geneva, and Basel airports. This collaboration marks Aeropers' first participation in the project group, which has been analysing and rating German airports against international safety standards since 1978 [1][2].
The assessments focus on key areas such as runway incursions and overall security standards. Runway incursions, which involve unauthorized access to runways, present significant safety risks. Aeropers highlights the critical consequences such incidents can have, referencing past accidents like the 2001 Milan Linate disaster caused by inadequate ground guidance systems [1][2].
The evaluations compare airports on various safety criteria. In the 2025 analysis, Zurich Airport ranked highly, securing the third place among 31 German and Swiss airports. Geneva and Basel airports scored lower, with Geneva taking the 26th place and Basel the 30th [1][2].
The aim of these assessments is to guarantee safety standards from the pilots’ perspective, regularly tracking safety issues and weaknesses to improve airport operations. Aeropers plans to continue these annual safety assessments and remain involved in the German Cockpit Association's airport checks to maintain and enhance safety at these Swiss airports [1][2].
Major risks for the 2025 analysis include airplanes overshooting or leaving the runway unintentionally, unauthorized access to the runway, and evaluating back-up infrastructure in the event of GPS jamming. GPS interference is becoming increasingly common due to geopolitical tensions, such as the war in Ukraine [1][2].
The results of the 2025 safety report can be found at flughafencheck.ch. Aviation incidents occur daily around the world, ranging from minor to those involving multiple fatalities. Incidents like the 2024 collision at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, which resulted in 5 fatalities, and the 2024 Jeju Air flight crash in South Korea, which claimed 179 lives, underscore the importance of ongoing safety checks [1][2]. Aeropers emphasizes the need for regular assessments to ensure the highest possible safety standards for air travellers.
In the realm of finance, Aeropers' annual safety assessments at Zurich, Geneva, and Basel airports represent a significant investment towards enhancing safety standards in the aviation industry. The sports metaphor can be applied here, as these assessments aim to ensure that air travel remains a "win" for all parties, ensuring passengers' safety by minimizing incidents and maintaining the highest standards possible.
