Zurich Airport (ZRH): Private Jet, Slots and Handling

Zurich Airport (ZRH / LSZH) is about ten minutes by train from the main station and has three runways, the longest measuring 3,700 m. Every business aviation flight must hold a slot on arrival and on departure, booked by the operator's dispatcher or the ground handler. In the evening, the coordinator allocates no departure slots between 22:46 and 05:44, and the last departure slot for a charter flight falls at 21:45, with no exceptions. IBC Aviation arranges your flights to or from Zurich from its Geneva headquarters.

Zurich Airport in brief

No movement without a slot

Flughafen Zürich puts it plainly: the airport is regulated by slots, and a business flight needs a valid slot before departure or arrival. The operator's dispatcher or the ground handler books it; the slot ID then goes into the flight plan, which must be filed at least 30 minutes before departure for the slot to be confirmed.

A lesser-known local rule applies in the late morning. Departure slots allocated between 10:15 and 11:55 are only valid for take-off on runway 28, the shortest of the three at 2,500 m. For a heavily loaded long-range jet bound for the Gulf or the United States, that length is checked with the operator before the time is confirmed.

In the evening, 21:45 for charter flights

Swiss federal rules ban take-offs between midnight and 06:00 and landings between midnight and 05:00, with movements subject to conditions between 22:00 and midnight. Zurich goes further in slot allocation: no arrivals between 23:00 and 06:09, no departures between 22:46 and 05:44.

Charter flights, whether one-off or in series, face an extended curfew: their last possible departure slot is 21:45, and the coordinator states that no exceptions are allowed. A business flight chartered from a commercial operator may fall into this category, which the ground handler confirms when requesting the slot. For a business dinner followed by a return to London or Paris, it is safer to work back from 21:45 than from the 22:46 limit.

Six handlers, and no more ExecuJet

The airport's official list names six handlers for general and business aviation: BHS Aviation Switzerland, Cat Air Service, Jet Aviation, Motorfluggruppe Zürich, Swiss Privilege Aviation Services and Travelcoup. ExecuJet, still often quoted, is no longer on it: Jet Aviation took over its FBO and hangar operations in Zurich in 2021.

The infrastructure itself is set to change. Flughafen Zürich has announced an investment of around CHF 100 million in a new general aviation terminal in its western zone, with the building permit application filed in the first half of 2024. Over the same period, its annual reports show general aviation movements down 6% in 2024 and a further 4% in 2025.

Davos and the World Economic Forum

Davos lies about 155 km from Zurich, close to two hours by road according to the congress centre that hosts the Forum. During the annual meeting in late January, aircraft parking at Zurich is limited to two hours: the jet drops its passengers and then repositions elsewhere.

The closest airport to Davos is the Engadin airport at Samedan. For the January 2026 Forum, every flight plan to or from Samedan required its own prior permission, and a restricted area with a 25-nautical-mile radius was activated around Davos on 16 January and from 19 to 24 January. Our article on the Davos forum by private jet and our page on St. Moritz by private jet cover these approaches.

Routes from Zurich

No route from Zurich is among the priced examples on our pricing page. The table therefore shows the hourly rate of each category, with estimated flight times that vary with the aircraft and the winds.

Which aircraft for Zurich

Zurich's runways accept every category. A light jet covers Paris, London or Nice, a heavy jet the Gulf, and an ultra long range jet North America. The real variable is timing: slot availability, the runway 28 constraint in the late morning, and the evening departure cut-off.

IBC Aviation for Zurich

Our Geneva team arranges flights to or from Zurich: slot booking through the handler, a check on the flight category for the evening cut-off, choice of ground handler and, in January, a parking plan for the Forum. Our guide to Zurich by private jet covers the city itself.

• Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
• France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
• Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com

Available 24/7.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a slot for a private jet at Zurich?

Yes, for every arrival and every departure. The dispatcher or the ground handler books it, and its ID goes into the flight plan, filed at least 30 minutes before departure.

How late can a private jet take off from Zurich?

No departure slots are allocated between 22:46 and 05:44. For charter flights, the last possible departure slot is 21:45, with no exceptions.

Which handlers serve private jets at Zurich Airport?

BHS Aviation Switzerland, Cat Air Service, Jet Aviation, Motorfluggruppe Zürich, Swiss Privilege Aviation Services and Travelcoup, according to the airport's official list.

How long does it take to get from Zurich to Davos?

Close to two hours by road for about 155 km. During the World Economic Forum, aircraft parking at Zurich is limited to two hours.

What is the longest runway at Zurich Airport?

Runway 16/34, at 3,700 m, ahead of 14/32 at 3,300 m and 10/28 at 2,500 m.