Basel EuroAirport unveils ambitions to expand its current footprint by a factor of two.
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The Airport's Massive Makeover
Get ready for some big changes at the airport! They're planning to drop a whopping 125 million francs to transform the joint Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg scene.
Their current terminal, spanning 15,000 square meters, will undergo a facelift, with a brand-new building of equal size tagging along. The goal? To boost service quality, according to the airport's management.
This upgrade is a direct response to a surge in passenger traffic over the past few years. The airport currently serves over 90 destinations and has bounced back spectacularly from the Covid pandemic slump. A record 9 million passengers took off or landed in 2024 - the second-best year in its 75-year history!
In 2025, the airport expects to set a new record of 9.2 million passengers, making the expansion a necessity. With double the capacity, the airport could potentially offer a budget-friendly alternative to Zurich, a mere 100 kilometers away.
Yet, the airport's management insists, "we're not in competition" with Zurich. Unlike Zurich or Geneva, the airport lies in Saint-Louis, France, but serves Basel, as well as nearby German and French cities. As a result, it bears the rather lengthy official name, 'EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg'. No wonder it has not one but three codes: BSL for Switzerland, MLH for France, and EAP for international travel.
Fun fact: Unlike Geneva's airport, which is French but entirely owned by the canton of Geneva, EuroAirport was developed (and is operated) jointly by France and Switzerland.
A Shoutout to the Airlines
SWISS might be the face of Zurich and Geneva airports, but they're a no-show here. Competing majors like Lufthansa, Austrian, British Airways, Air France, and Turkish Airlines have a strong presence, as do a plethora of low-cost airlines.
EasyJet leads the pack with an extensive network of flights from 65 airports. Other significant players include Wizz Air and its Maltese counterpart, as well as lesser-known operators like AirTransat, EnterAir, and Chair Airlines. They cater to destinations ranging from Israel to Morocco.
[THE LINK] provides a comprehensive list of all airlines and their destination offerings from EuroAirport. Stay tuned for your next adventure!
In the coming years, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is expected to double its capacity, aimed at accommodating a fashionable 9.2 million passengers in 2025, surpassing its previous records. With this expansion, it could serve as an alternative and budget-friendly travel option to Zurich, situated 100 kilometers away. Despite this, the airport's management maintains a non- competitive approach, stating, "we're not in competition" with Zurich. The airport's diverse group of operators, including EasyJet, Wizz Air, AirTransat, EnterAir, Chair Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian, British Airways, Air France, and Turkish Airlines, guarantee a wide range of travel destinations.
