The Regional Aerodrome Bern-Belp

The Regional Aerodrome Bern-Belp (marketing name “Bern Airport,” officially designated as Regionalflugplatz Bern-Belp in German), represents a regional aerodrome that provides services in Bern, which is considered to be de facto capital of Switzerland. The aerodrome is conveniently located within the town limits of Belp and used to operate scheduled flights to several European metropolitans as well as some leisure destinations. The facility handled 183,319 commuters in 2016, a decrease of 3.5 percent over 2015.

The Regional Aerodrome Bern-Belp

The Regional Aerodrome Bern-Belp (marketing name “Bern Airport,” officially designated as Regionalflugplatz Bern-Belp in German), represents a regional aerodrome that provides services in Bern, which is considered to be de facto capital of Switzerland. The aerodrome is conveniently located within the town limits of Belp and used to operate scheduled flights to several European metropolitans as well as some leisure destinations. The facility handled 183,319 commuters in 2016, a decrease of 3.5 percent over 2015.

Bern Airport housed a base of now-defunct SkyWork Airlines whose grounding made the aerodrome to lose more than 1/3 of its turnover. At the moment, Helvetic Airways and the charter operator Peoples Airways provide several flights during the holiday season. Currently, the Swiss Federal Government’s air transport service Lufttransportdienst des Bundes have based a couple of business jets at the facility. The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service REGA has one base at Belp and two helicopter transport organizations, as well as two flying schools (one for gliders, one motorized), operate at the aerodrome.

History

The aerodrome was installed in 1929 by Alpar, a private airline that provided services within Switzerland until the eruption of World War II. After the war, Alpar Airlines remained in business as the aerodrome operator, supported by subsidies of the city government and cantonal. A planned expansion project in 1947 did not succeed in a popular referendum, and only in 1950, the first concrete airstrip was established. In 2014, Alpar Airlines was renamed to Flughafen Bern AG.

Multiple attempts to create an international airport in or around Bern instead of the already existent small regional aerodrome at Belpmoos failed. In 1945, the national parliament determined to establish the first international airport, currently known as Zurich Airport, at Kloten close to the Zürich instead of in Utzensdorf near Bern. However, plans for improvement there were retained as an inter-urban facility, which would require less space and therefore placate local opposition by farming interests. A 1963 airport plan near Herrenschwanden was abandoned due to the strong popular opposition, especially by farmers. The same conclusion was faced with a 1966 project in Rosshäusern and a 1970 project Kallnach.

In 2016, BMI regional stopped its flights from Munich Airport to Bern after two years, which is served in direct competition with SkyWork Airlines. In May 2018, RUAG stated that it would cease its operation at the aerodrome in 2018, indicating declining business. In 2018, the most significant carrier at the aerodrome SkyWork Airlines discontinued all operations. At that time, Helvetic Airways was left as the only Swiss airline that served the aerodrome. Since then, however, Chair Airlines, and a Swiss Airline, has started offering services to the airport.