SWITZERLAND. Zürich Airport today revealed its annual results and called for people who are vaccinated to be allowed to travel without restrictions or the need for quarantine.
Airport CEO Stephan Widrig said: “Anyone who provides proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test should be able to travel without restrictions and also be exempt from quarantine rules. We will continue to place great importance on hygiene and protective measures in future to ensure that air travel from Zurich Airport is safe. But we urgently need conditions that allow travel to be planned again.”
The airport company said it is well placed to take advantage of the recovery, with “an advantageous passenger mix [and] a high proportion of travellers flying within Europe and to tourist destinations, as well as a robust Swiss economy”.
Non-aviation revenue in 2020 declined by -26.7% year-on-year to CHF402.3 million (US$433.5 million). As reported, commercial turnover (retail and dining) generated gross sales of CHF237.2 million (US$255.6 million), down by -60.5% in the year. The airport company posted commercial revenue of CHF104.4 million (US$112.5 million), down by -22.3%).
The company said that negotiations with partners over rent and MAG reductions were held and agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Total revenue fell by -48.4% to CHF624 million (US$672 million) in the year. Passenger traffic in the full year hit 8.3 million, down by -73.5% compared to 2019.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased by -69.5% to CHF196.0 million (US$211.2 million). The company posted a consolidated loss for the financial year of CHF69.1 million (US$74.5 million).
In related news, the international business will be concentrated in a separate International division within the group from 1 May 2021. The Board of Directors has named Daniel Bircher to head up this new division. From 2011 he was Operations Director at Bangalore International Airport in India, from 2015 COO of Belo Horizonte Airport in Brazil and since 2019 CEO Zürich Airport Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The focus of the international business is on India and Brazil, with the largest project currently the construction of a greenfield airport for the Delhi region in Noida. Zürich Airport is also involved in the operation of eight airports in Latin America. These include four airports in Brazil, two in Chile and airports in Bogotá and Curaçao.
