Zurich Airport is marking a landmark moment in 2026 as Observation Deck B celebrates its 15th anniversary, highlighting a decade and a half in which the open air terrace has grown from a local curiosity into one of Switzerland’s most popular family outings and aviation attractions. With a yearlong program of special events, monthly free admission days and themed celebrations, the airport is using the milestone to reaffirm its commitment to keeping aviation up close and accessible at a time when many airports have scaled back or closed viewing terraces entirely.
Fifteen Years of Aviation Up Close at Zurich
Observation Deck B in its current form opened in 2011 as part of a major redevelopment of Zurich Airport’s Pier B. While the airport had long offered views over the apron and runways, the redesigned deck was conceived as a modern, family friendly attraction that would make the complexity of airport operations visible to the public again. Fifteen years on, that concept has clearly resonated. The deck has become a staple excursion for local families, aviation enthusiasts and visiting travelers with spare time before or after a flight.
Today the terrace is promoted by the airport as one of the most popular day trip destinations in Switzerland. Located in the public area of the terminal, it attracts not only plane spotters, but also grandparents with young children, school groups and curious visitors keen to understand what happens behind the scenes. Large picture windows, an open air walkway and elevated vantage points give guests a sweeping panorama of aircraft movements, service vehicles and runway activity that is difficult to experience anywhere else.
The 15th anniversary is being framed by Zurich Airport as a celebration of that enduring appeal. Over the course of 2026 the airport’s visitor services team is rolling out a series of promotions and special programs centered on the deck, inviting locals and international travelers alike to rediscover the terrace and its aviation themed attractions.
Anniversary Highlights and Free Entrance Days in 2026
The centerpiece of the anniversary celebrations is a birthday campaign running from February through December 2026 that offers free admission to Observation Deck B on the 15th of every month. On those days visitors can access the terrace without paying the usual entry fee, making it more attractive for families and repeat guests who want to experience the deck at different times of year or in different weather conditions.
In addition to free entry, the airport is planning extra commentary and programming on those monthly anniversary days. Flight operations will be accompanied by live explanations from specialist staff, who describe aircraft types, runway procedures and the choreography of ground handling in language that both children and adults can follow. This turns a spontaneous visit into a kind of informal guided tour, particularly appealing to first time guests and casual visitors who may not know much about aviation.
Beyond the regular 15th of the month offer, the 2026 calendar includes themed days anchored around the terrace. A Grandparents’ Day in March invites older generations to bring grandchildren for a shared outing, with kid friendly activities on the mini airport playground. An Easter special in early April adds seasonal surprises to the deck experience, while late April brings Customs Days with live demonstrations from customs officers and their service dogs. Together these events underscore how central Observation Deck B has become to Zurich Airport’s broader public program.
Design, Layout and Signature Features of Deck B
Part of the deck’s enduring success lies in its thoughtful design, which balances open views for enthusiasts with interactive and playful elements for younger visitors. Running along the length of Pier B, the terrace combines outdoor areas with partially covered sections, allowing guests to stay longer in changing weather. The star attraction is the elevated observation walkway, which extends towards the aircraft stands and lets visitors look almost directly into cockpit windows as pilots prepare for departure.
Strategically placed viewing points frame takeoff and landing paths so spectators can follow an aircraft from pushback to roll, rotation and climb. Along the balustrade, large glass panels and low railings create unobstructed sightlines for photographers and plane spotters, while still adhering to stringent safety requirements. Beyond the runway views, the deck also looks onto gate positions where narrowbody and widebody aircraft are serviced, offering a close up look at refueling, catering, baggage loading and pushback operations.
Information plays a central role in the layout. Twelve flight information pillars are distributed across the deck, each dedicated to a specific aircraft type or route. These provide concise, accessible facts about the planes on view, including seating capacities, airline networks and typical destinations. The goal is to turn what might otherwise be abstract code on a departures board into something tangible, helping visitors connect the aircraft in front of them with cities around the world.
A Family Friendly Mini Airport Above the Real One
Observation Deck B has been deliberately developed as a family destination, and the mini airport playground is at the heart of that concept. Instead of simply installing generic slides and climbing frames, Zurich Airport has built a child scale aviation world that mirrors what is happening on the tarmac below. Young visitors can climb into a small aircraft, sit in a mock control tower and role play airport scenarios inspired by what they see taking place on the apron.
The playground includes slides, swings and climbing structures shaped to evoke aviation themes. These features allow younger children to burn off energy between bursts of plane spotting, giving parents and grandparents a chance to linger on the terrace. For many local families, this combination has turned the deck into a reliable outing option on weekends, public holidays or school vacations, particularly during the brighter months of the year when the terrace is open later into the evening.
The deck also integrates kid friendly learning. Simple explanatory panels and pictograms at eye level help children understand the basics of flying and airport operations. Combined with the vivid backdrop of real aircraft movement, the result feels less like a didactic museum and more like an outdoor classroom, where education and play flow together naturally. For adults, the playful elements soften what might otherwise be a very technical environment, making the entire experience more accessible.
Practical Information: Opening Hours, Seasons and Access
For 2026, Zurich Airport has set clear seasonal opening hours for Observation Deck B as part of the anniversary program. During the winter season, from late October 2025 through 29 March 2026, the terrace is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00. With the switch to the summer timetable on 30 March 2026, the closing time is extended to 18:00, giving visitors an extra hour of daylight on the deck through late October.
The terrace is located in the public area of the airport near Check in 2, so it can be visited without a boarding pass. Guests reach the entrance through a dedicated security checkpoint, where bags are screened in a similar manner to passenger controls, though with some restrictions on luggage size. This extra step allows the deck to be positioned very close to active aircraft operations while still conforming to international security standards.
While the anniversary campaign brings multiple free entrance days, on regular days the admission fee remains modest. Adults pay only a small amount, with reduced prices for teenagers and free entry for younger children. Holders of regional visitor cards enjoy complimentary access, further encouraging tourists staying in Zurich to add the airport terrace to their itinerary. The deck may close temporarily in cases of severe weather for safety reasons, so visitors are advised to check conditions on the day of their visit.
On Site Services: Bistro, Shuttle and Guided Tours
A visit to Observation Deck B often extends to several hours, and Zurich Airport has equipped the terrace accordingly. The on site Bistro Aviolino serves drinks, snacks and light meals, providing a place to warm up with a coffee on a winter day or cool down with ice cream in summer. During the standard timetable, the bistro operates on selected days, and in the high season it often mirrors the extended opening hours to accommodate the increased number of visitors.
The deck also functions as a starting point for the airport’s broader visitor program. Public bus tours of the airfield, including popular evening and night tours, typically check in or depart from the vicinity of the terrace. These guided tours take guests behind the scenes onto service roads along the runways and around hangars, complementing the static overview from Deck B with a more immersive experience on the apron itself.
On weekends and during certain periods, a free shuttle operates between Observation Deck B and the additional Observation Deck E, which is located in the airport’s dock for international flights. That second terrace is normally accessible only to ticketed passengers, so the shuttle offers a rare chance for day visitors to experience an alternative vantage point over the long haul operations. Together, the two decks and the touring program form a comprehensive visitor ecosystem that few major airports currently match.
Events, Parties and the Cultural Life of the Terrace
Over the years Observation Deck B has evolved beyond a simple viewing platform and into an unusual cultural venue. Its most talked about transformation comes once a year, when the terrace becomes the setting for a daytime music event run by a local label, turning the airfield views into a dramatic backdrop for DJs and dancing. Tickets for this party typically sell out quickly, underscoring how strongly the deck has entered the city’s collective imagination.
Family focused events form the core of the annual calendar. Airport mascot days, seasonal celebrations and special weekends attract large numbers of local residents, many of whom have no flight to catch but come specifically for the atmosphere on the terrace. Additional highlights can include themed days devoted to environmental topics, safety demonstrations or emergency services, using the unique setting to communicate how a modern hub airport works.
The 15th anniversary program builds on this experience. By anchoring smaller, repeated events such as the monthly free entry and live commentary, the airport aims to keep visitor numbers spread throughout the year rather than concentrating everything into a few major weekends. This strategy helps maintain a relaxed atmosphere on the terrace and ensures that guests can still find a good viewpoint for photography or quiet observation even on busier days.
Why Observation Deck B Matters in Today’s Airport Landscape
The continued investment in Observation Deck B stands out in a global context where many airports have dismantled or repurposed their open terraces. Since the 1970s, heightened security concerns and commercial pressures have led numerous hubs to close public viewing decks or convert them into retail and lounge space. Zurich’s decision to rebuild and expand its terrace as part of the Pier B redevelopment was therefore a contrarian move, betting that public access to aviation would remain important.
Fifteen years later, that bet has paid off. The deck functions as a kind of civic balcony over one of Europe’s key transport nodes, reinforcing the connection between the region and its airport. It allows residents to see first hand how air travel links their city to the world, while also fostering transparency about operations, noise and environmental issues. For younger generations who may otherwise only know airports as closed, controlled spaces viewed from a car park drop off, the terrace offers a more open, engaging perspective.
As Zurich Airport looks beyond the 15th anniversary year, Observation Deck B is likely to remain a cornerstone of its public outreach. Continued programming, modest pricing and the promise of aviation up close ensure that the terrace will keep drawing visitors, whether they come for a once in a lifetime look at a favorite aircraft type or for a simple family afternoon out watching planes rise and disappear into the Swiss sky.