Zurich Airport. Credit: Shutterstock, Michael Derrer Fuchs
Passengers flying through Zurich Airport will no longer hear announcements in French, as the airport has opted to only use German and English.
This change is part of a new ‘Silent Airport’ concept aimed at reducing noise and enhancing passenger comfort. The four national languages of Switzerland are German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
Why are French announcements being stopped at Zurich Airport?
According to Zurich Airport spokesperson Livia Caluori, the decision aligns with a broader international trend to minimise airport announcements. Speaking to Keystone-SDA, Caluori confirmed that “other airports are also reducing announcements to enhance passenger relaxation and comfort” (Cited by The Brussels Times).
Another factor behind the change is data analysis. Caluori explained that “five years ago, an examination of website usage data revealed that only 1 per cent of users clicked on the French version.” Given these findings, Zurich Airport decided to streamline its linguistic approach and prioritise German and English, the two most-used languages at the airport.
Will French-only speakers struggle at Zurich Airport?
Despite removing French from its announcements, the airport reassures travellers that they can still access information in their preferred language through digital solutions. “Francophones are not completely lost, thanks to new technologies. Almost all web browsers offer integrated translators, enabling a website in German and English to be translated into the desired language with a single click,” says Caluori.
Zurich Airport is not the first to cut back on announcements, and it is unlikely to be the last. “We are following an international trend,” Caluori said, noting that minimising loudspeaker messages reflects a shift towards digital and user-driven information systems.
Back in 2024, Zurich was recognised as having the highest rate of public transport satisfaction.
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