The Sectoral Aviation Infrastructure Plan (SAIP) stipulates that at least 46% of all people should arrive at Zurich Airport by public transport by 2030. The most recent survey conducted in 2024 revealed a modal split of 46%, meaning that this target has been achieved for the first time. The figure of 46% relates only to the bimodal modal split (excluding bicycle and pedestrian traffic).

Zurich Airport Ltd. collects information about the modal split every four years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey planned for 2021 had been suspended in consultation with the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA). As passenger numbers have since returned to pre-pandemic levels, the modal split survey was conducted again in 2024.

Share of public transport over time and by user group

The results show a positive trend: Since 2017, the share of public transport has increased by two percentage points, from 44% to 46% (see figure).

The increase in the modal split is primarily attributable to a change in mobility behaviour: More and more people are making a conscious decision to choose public transport for their arrival and departure. Nevertheless, there are people who are still absolutely dependent on a car because of where they live or during off-peak hours.

The detailed analysis by segment shows:

• 58% of departing passengers and 63% of visitors use public transport.
• The majority of airport staff also commute by public transport (51%), especially during office hours (versus shift working hours).
• On the other hand, people accompanying them (e.g. people picking them up) travel by car in 92% of cases.

Zurich Airport as a central transport hub

This positive trend can be attributed in particular to the airport’s very good accessibility by rail, bus and the Glattal light rail line as well as the targeted promotion of public transport. In 2024, Zurich Airport was one of the most important transport hubs in Switzerland, with roughly 30 million public transport users – around 20% of them purely connecting passengers – and 31.2 million air passengers.

Despite this positive outcome, the airport operator, the public sector and public transport providers remain challenged to keep the modal split stable until 2030. The expected growth in traffic across all modes of transport – driven by economic and demographic developments – is expected to be disproportionately borne by public transport. This requires further targeted work to improve accessibility via public transport from the catchment area of Switzerland's national airport in Zurich.

Methodology of the 2024 modal split survey

The modal split was calculated based on several thousand surveys conducted on-site among passengers, accompanying persons and visitors as well as online employee surveys. The surveys were supplemented by data from passenger and vehicle counters as well as observations on vehicle occupancy.

To check compliance with the modal split requirements, the airport operator has been conducting surveys on a regular basis since 1994 to calculate what is known as the modal split. This figure indicates the relative percentage of people using public transport compared to the total volume of traffic for all airport users. The current survey is based on the SAIP's definition of the modal split, which has been in force since 2009.