![]() However, as a result of a dispute over landing fees, the airline closed all eight routes. In 2004 the low-cost carrier easyJet opened a base at Basel and the passenger totals rose again, reaching 4 million in 2006.įrom 2007 until 2009, Ryanair also flew to the airport for the first time. Following the Swissair liquidation in 2001, the subsequent ending of services in early 2002, and the transformation of Crossair into Swiss International Air Lines, the number of flights from Basel fell and the new terminal was initially underused. The first phase was completed in 2002 and the second phase in 2005.Ĭrossair was the largest airline at the Basel airport. Ī decision was made to enlarge the terminals again with a new "Y-finger" dock. Swissair explained that the flights suffered from low occupancy, although a bz Basel journalist commented that the airline did not advertise them well. By this point, Swiss World Airways had shut down. Swissair announced in early 2000 that the connection to Newark would conclude in March. As a result, passengers travelling between Newark and one of those cities could change planes in Basel. The carrier operated a hub at the EuroAirport, from which it flew to 40 regional destinations. Crossair, a subsidiary of Swissair, code-shared on the route. Swissair also hoped the flight would attract people working for pharmaceutical companies in Basel. Swiss law stipulated that if a carrier based in the country introduced a route, no other Swiss airline could add that route to its network for ten years. The newspaper was possibly referring to Swiss World Airways, which had expressed its desire to connect the two cities. According to the local newspaper bz Basel, Swissair mainly launched the link to prevent another airline from starting it first. Aircraft used on this route included Airbus A310s and A330s. In December 1998, Swissair inaugurated service to Newark. By 1998, this number rose up to 3 million. In 1992 a total of 2 million passengers used the airport. In 1987, the trademark name EuroAirport Basel–Mulhouse–Freiburg was introduced. In 1984, an annual total of 1 million passengers was reached. The north–south runway was extended further to 3,900 m (12,800 ft) in 1972. The first enlargement project was approved by referendum in Basel in 1960 and, over the following decades, the terminals and runways were continually extended. īetween autumn 1951 and spring 1953, the east–west runway was extended to 1,600 m (5,200 ft) and the "Zollfreistrasse" (customs-free road) was constructed, allowing access from Basel to the departure terminal without passing through French border controls. Construction began on 8 March 1946 and a provisional airport with a 1,200 m (3,900 ft) runway was officially opened on 8 May. Basel-Stadt's Grand Council agreed to pay the costs for a provisional airport even before an international treaty was signed (which was not until 1949). France would provide the land and the Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt would cover the construction costs. In 1946 talks resumed and it was agreed that an airport would be built 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Blotzheim, France. The suburb of Allschwil was proposed for a new airport, and this would require being constructed across the Franco-Swiss border, leading to talks with French authorities centered on developing a single airport that would serve both countries, enhancing its international airport status. Swiss planners identified Basel as one of the four cities for which a main urban airport would be developed and recognized that the existing airfield at Sternenfeld in Birsfelden was too small and, due to the development of the adjacent river port facilities, unsuitable for expansion. Plans for the construction of a joint Swiss–French airport started in the 1930s but were halted by the Second World War. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |