Flughafen Zürich : Planned introduction of roll-over mechanism for future charge periods at Zurich Airport

In the past, there have been various discussions and procedures in connection with the treatment of positive as well as negative return differences in the regulated business (sector relevant to flight operations). As part of the negotiation process to determine flight operations charges at Zurich Airport, which was successfully completed in 2020, the negotiating parties therefore agreed to take steps that the Ordinance on Airport Charges (OAC) is supplemented with a roll-over mechanism.

Key adjustments

The planned selective revision of the Ordinance on Airport Charges should state that, in principle, any excess returns or shortfalls actually achieved in a charge period will be taken into account in the subsequent charge period. This corresponds to a roll-over mechanism and allows deviations from the allowed return to be taken into account in a subsequent charge period.

In case of unforeseeable events with significant impact, the airport operator or airport users still have the option to request an earlier change to the flight operations charges.

Effects of the OAC revision

The introduction of a roll-over mechanism can simplify charge negotiations, as deviations (for example from initially assumed traffic or cost developments) can be corrected over the following charge periods. This increases the prospects of a mutual negotiation result and makes complex interventions by FOCA unnecessary during the charge period due to a violation of the cost recovery principle.

Next steps

After the stakeholder involvement will have been completed, the intended revision will go through the usual legislative process.

The final decision on the revision of the OAC rests with the Swiss Federal Council and a decision is expected in Q4 2024. The capital market will be informed of the Swiss Federal Council's decision accordingly.

The adjusted regulations shall come into force on January 1, 2025. However, for the current charge period, which started in 2016, the roll-over mechanism according to the OAC revision does not yet apply in the event of any excess returns or shortfalls.

As communicated in the past, the next procedure for adjusting flight operations charges will begin in April 2025, followed by the start of charge negotiations.