Basel airport

Basel airport is also known as Euroairport Basel-Mulhouse-Frieburg and it is an international airport. Near Swiss and German borders, it is present in France. In 2007, it had a capability to handle 4,270,000 passengers. Basel airport is one of those air ports which are used by two countries at the same time. Switzerland and France operate it jointly. In 1946, an agreement was developed on the basis of which three countries i.e., Germany, France and Switzerland can use the airport together. It was presented in the agreement that there will be no border restriction regarding operation of air port. The board of the airport is comprised of 8 members from each country.

Initially there were two sections of airport, but in March 2009 when Switzerland joined the Schengen treaty the two halves of French and Swiss become united. It is considered as unique airport over the world as euro air port has 3 IATA air port codes. The code for Swiss is BSL, for French is MLH, and for Euro air port EAP.

In 1930’s it was planned to construct Basel airport (joint Swiss-French air port) but due to Second World War, the plan was postponed. In 1946 an issue of building an airport was again surfaced and it was decided to build the airport at Blotzheim. In order to construct the airport land was provided by the France and cost of construction was estimated by Swiss. Construction of the air port was started on 8th March 1946 and the airport’s operation was started on 8th May, 1946. Initially the runway was 1200 meter but later on between 1951 and 1953 it was extended to 1600 meter. In 1960, the approval of first enlargement project was held, by referendum. Also projects concerned with the extension of runways and terminals were also proved, in the later years.