French will no longer be used in announcements at Zurich Airport, authorities have now confirmed. However, rather than a cost or time-saving measure, the airport explained that scrapping the service actually makes flying more pleasant for passengers.

Zurich Airport suspends French announcements

In a statement, Zurich Airport confirmed that it would no longer make passenger announcements in French. In the future, announcements about the police, security, boarding, gates and other crucial information will only be given in English and German.

Zurich Airport has now followed other operators in getting rid of their French language services. In July 2024 for example, Swissport scrapped its French-speaking announcements in Zurich and no longer requires its workers to speak the language fluently. At the time, the company justified the decision by noting that scrapping the requirements allowed a greater range of people to apply for jobs, something considered vital amid the ongoing shortage of workers.

Speaking to the Tages-Anzeiger, Zurich Airport spokesperson Livia Caluori said that the decision to scrap French-speaking announcements was partly based on data. For instance, only 1 percent of visitors to its website use the French version.

Why do fewer announcements make airports better?

Interestingly, Caluori said that the move was also part of plans to “minimise announcements” at the airport generally. "We are following an international trend…Other airports are also reducing announcements to focus on passenger relaxation and comfort," she explained.

In studies conducted at Brazillian airports in 2018, it was found that regular announcements and queuing led to increased levels of stress among passengers. Therefore, many airports around the world, from Amsterdam and Dubai to Dehli and Cancun, have become “silent airports” where announcements and noise are kept to a minimum.

The lack of announcements is said to relax passengers, as they are no longer as distracted or alert as they needed to be before. However, this lack of alertness has its downsides: in 2015, a man flying out of Bristol Airport blamed the silent airport policy for missing his Ryanair flight.

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