Zurich airport has declined to broadcast announcements in French.
Spicing Things Up at Zurich Airport: French Announcements Stealthily Silenced
Air travelers passing through Switzerland's largest airport might've noticed something peculiar about the announcements - they're no longer hearing any French. Confirmed in media reports on March 17th, the airport has curtailed announcements to German and English, with exceptions only for flights bound for French-speaking airports.
If the ground staff speak French, that's a bonus, but not a necessity. In most cases, announcements are still made in English and German only, lacking the tricolor charm the airport once boasted.
The powers-that-be are justifying this shift, claiming it's all part of their "shh-silent airport" vibe. Airport spokesperson Livia Caluori shared this insight in a reported interview. Back in July 2024, announcements initially stopped being made in French as part of this new concept.
"We're following an international trend," Caluori highlighted, hinting at similar moves made at other airports. "The focus now seems to be on passenger relaxation and comfort."
The airport's website, too, is a sleek English and German duo, abandoning French from its menus. Caluori explained this change was grounded in user data analysis, revealing that less than 1% of users clicked on the French version of the website five years ago.
Yet, the French-speaking population isn't left in the lurch. Almost all internet browsers offer integrated translators, allowing visitors to easily click their way to understanding the English and German content.
Now, let's take a look at the other international airports in Switzerland. In Geneva, announcements are primarily in French and English, although the reasoning behind this choice hasn't been explicitly stated. Basel EuroAirport, on the other hand, continues to cater to the linguistic diversity at its locale, offering announcements in German, English, and French, thanks to its position at the crossroads of Germany, France, and Switzerland.
Interestingly, airline crews working for SWISS or Edelweiss airlines are required to be fluent in all three languages - German, French, and English, even though the passenger experience at Zurich Airport opts for streamlined, minimal language usage.
Insights: Zurich Airport's decision to cut back on French announcements appears to be driven by operational efficiency goals, as emphasized by the airport's Terminal Regulation[3], which stresses minimal announcements. While the airport still provides crucial security information in French, general announcements are pared down due to the problem of multilingual redundancy and cost optimization. Airlines and service providers operate under strict guidelines prioritizing essential communication, with the regulation being updated twice a year to maintain operational standards[3]. The move aligns with a broader industry trend of leaning toward automated and digital information systems[3]. Route adjustments such as Edelweiss Air's discontinued Zurich-Havana flights[1] demonstrate a focus on operational efficiency.
- Other international airports in Switzerland, such as Geneva and Basel EuroAirport, maintain a diverse language policy, catering to the linguistic needs of their passengers with announcements in multiple languages.
- Despite the majority of announcements being made in English and German at Zurich Airport, airline crews working for SWISS or Edelweiss airlines are expected to be fluent in all three languages - German, French, and English to effectively communicate with passengers.
- The airport's finance department rationalizes this shift, emphasizing the "shh-silent airport" concept and the focus on passenger relaxation and comfort as driving factors.
- Although the airport website now primarily features English and German, the French-speaking population can still access and understand the content through integrated translators available in most internet browsers, allowing for a seamless lifestyle and business travel experience.
