The World Economic Forum returns to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, Jan. 18-22, 2027, bringing increased business aviation traffic to Zurich (LSZH) and surrounding airports.

Parking is the biggest planning challenge. Zurich offers convenient access to Davos, but limited aircraft parking and exceptionally high hangar costs can make remaining at LSZH impractical.

Based on experience supporting previous Forums, World Fuel | Universal Trip Support recommends considering Dübendorf (LSMD) as a first option, particularly for operators planning to remain in the region throughout the event.

Final event-specific aviation restrictions for 2027 remain pending. The following guidance incorporates established airport procedures, 2026 requirements, and operational experience from previous years.

What operators need to know

• Event dates: Jan. 18-22, 2027. Additional traffic is expected before and after the Forum.
• Parking: Operators should ideally begin requesting parking a year in advance. Preliminary Zurich parking requests are already being coordinated for 2027.
• Dübendorf (LSMD): Often easier to secure parking than at Zurich during the World Economic Forum. Helicopter transfers to Davos are available, subject to weather and operating arrangements.
• Zurich (LSZH): Drop-and-go operations followed by repositioning to Friedrichshafen (EDNY) are recommended when parking is unavailable or prohibitively expensive.
• Other alternates: Geneva (LSGG) and Basel (LFSB) can also be considered, depending on operational restrictions and parking availability.

Zurich parking and hangar costs

Zurich is a primary airport for World Economic Forum attendees, offering business aviation handling, customs, immigration, and quarantine (CIQ) services, and ground transportation to Davos.

However, securing parking can be substantially more difficult than securing an airport slot.

“We tell operators to start making their Davos parking arrangements a year in advance, but many still wait until much closer to the event,” said Joey Fleming, World Fuel | Universal Trip Support. “By then, parking at Zurich can be extremely limited and the cost of hangar space can be staggering. We already have preliminary requests submitted for 2027, and even those aren’t guaranteed.”

Hangar parking at Zurich can be exceptionally expensive during the World Economic Forum, with significant cancellation penalties for some arrangements. Operators should review parking costs and cancellation terms carefully before committing, particularly when repositioning to Dübendorf or Friedrichshafen may be a more practical alternative.

Dübendorf (LSMD): A preferred alternative to Zurich

Dübendorf is normally closed to routine general aviation traffic but has opened for eligible World Economic Forum-related operations during previous years.

World Fuel | Universal Trip Support has successfully arranged Dübendorf operations for aircraft denied parking at Zurich or seeking to avoid the high cost of remaining there. Top Motion has provided ground-handling support at Dübendorf during previous Forums and is a preferred handler for these operations.

“We’ve had success using Dübendorf for operators who couldn’t secure parking at Zurich or wanted to avoid the hangar costs,” Fleming said. “Parking is generally easier to arrange, and helicopter transfers to Davos are available.”

Under previous World Economic Forum arrangements:

• Prior permission required (PPR) was mandatory.
• Operating hours were 0700–2100 Monday through Friday and 0900–2100 on weekends, with no overtime.
• CIQ was handled through the military terminal.
• Flights between LSZH and LSMD were prohibited.

During the 2026 World Economic Forum, additional restrictions prohibited flights carrying persons protected under international law from operating at Dübendorf.

Operators should confirm 2027 access eligibility, PPR procedures, operating hours, parking, and helicopter arrangements before committing to this option.

Zurich drop-and-go and alternate parking

If passengers need to arrive at Zurich, dropping them off and repositioning the aircraft is often the most practical option. Friedrichshafen (EDNY), Germany, has been the most dependable choice in past years.

Friedrichshafen (EDNY)

Friedrichshafen has historically offered relatively accessible general aviation parking during the World Economic Forum, making it an attractive repositioning option.

Previous guidance indicated no routine slot or PPR requirement and overtime available upon request. These conditions should be reconfirmed for 2027.

German fuel taxes can increase operating costs, but the overall expense may still compare favorably with extended parking at Zurich.

Geneva (LSGG) and Basel (LFSB)

Geneva and Basel are additional parking and repositioning options worth evaluating.

Basel offers full business aviation support and can accommodate larger aircraft, including Gulfstream G650s, Airbus Corporate Jets, and Boeing Business Jets, subject to airport and parking approvals.

Geneva requires particular attention to parking availability and applicable World Economic Forum restrictions. During the 2026 event, Zurich and Geneva were prohibited as filed alternates for certain diplomatic-clearance flights to Samedan (LSZS). That restriction did not apply universally to all business aviation flights.

World Economic Forum 2027 restrictions: What happened in 2026?

Final event-specific NOTAMs for 2027 remain pending, but the previous year’s restrictions provide useful planning guidance.

During the 2026 World Economic Forum, Swiss authorities imposed additional requirements for diplomatic-clearance operations, including:

• Diplomatic-clearance applications at least five working days before the flight.
• Confirmed Zurich parking before submitting clearance applications.
• A maximum two-hour ground stay without approved Zurich parking.
• No arrivals before 1400 local for aircraft with wingspans exceeding 17 meters and/or without parking authorization.
• A maximum of one aircraft per nation stationed at Zurich.

These requirements applied specifically to diplomatic-clearance operations and should not be interpreted as blanket restrictions for all private and charter flights.

At Samedan (LSZS), operators also encountered restricted-airspace procedures and separate requirements for airport PPR and airspace authorization.

Operators should monitor current NOTAMs and coordinate with their ground handlers as 2027 procedures are released.

Permits, CIQ, and ground services

Private non-revenue flights generally do not require Swiss landing permits. Charter requirements depend on the operator’s nationality, traffic rights, and nature of the operation, with non-EU operators requiring particular attention.

Previous Zurich guidance indicated that CIQ could be handled through the FBO for flights carrying up to 24 passengers, with larger groups using the main terminal. This procedure should be reconfirmed for 2027.

Fuel, catering, towing, and other services should be arranged early, particularly for peak departure periods.

Operators interested in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) should confirm physical supply availability ahead of their trip. Book and claim, using sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFc), may also be considered for eligible emissions and reporting objectives when physical SAF is unavailable or impractical.

For crew and passenger logistics, hotels and chauffeured transportation should be reserved well in advance. Helicopter transfers offer another option for reaching Davos but can be affected by winter weather.

Consider a dedicated on-site representative

For complex World Economic Forum itineraries, operators may benefit from having a dedicated representative on-site to coordinate crew, passenger, and ground-handling requirements.

World Fuel | Universal Trip Support’s Air-to-Ground (A2G) service provides an on-site representative who works directly with the trip support team to coordinate ground transportation, catering, crew accommodations, airport and FBO requirements, and last-minute schedule changes.

This can be particularly valuable when aircraft are repositioned to alternate airports, helicopter transfers are involved, or winter weather disrupts planned arrangements.

Conclusion

For the 2027 World Economic Forum, the key decision is where the aircraft will stay during the event. Evaluate Dübendorf early, plan a Zurich drop-off with Friedrichshafen parking as the backup, and submit parking requests now. Operators who wait for the final NOTAMs will have fewer options.