Altenrhein Airport puts slopes renovation on ice for financing!

Altenrhein Airport puts slopes renovation on ice for financing!

Flugplatz St.Gallen-Altenrhein, Schweiz - St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport, also known as People’s Airport, faces challenges that affect the planned renovation of its start and landing slopes. Thomas Kutzer, the People’s Air Group CEO, announced today that the renovation scheduled for August 2025 must be postponed due to the lack of planning security. This means that necessary infrastructure investments are put on ice until there is clarity about future financing.

The decision of the Swiss Federal Council to delete the support funds for regional airfields in the relief package has led to this precarious situation. According to Kutzer, the financial resources for air traffic control are not to be expected from the General Treasure. Instead, the financing will rely on the mineral oil tax on flight gasoline, which further affects the predictability and implementation of the renovation.

alternatives to renovation

While the renovation is pushed to the long bank, the airport will continue to guarantee the safety of the company. Kutzer explained that targeted repair and maintenance measures are carried out. This work is expected to take place in night work in order not to disturb ongoing operation during the day. The planned operating interruption for line and charter flights remains unchanged from 11 to 29 August 2025 and was maintained despite the situation.

according to lieze.li is the deletion of the support funds for regional airfields part of a broader relief package, which explains the insecurities in the industry. CEO Krutzler emphasizes that no sensible investments can be made in the renovation of the slopes without planning security.

context of the airport infrastructure

These topics illustrate the need for a sustainable infrastructure and the technological adaptation
in aviation in order to remain competitive and to meet future requirements, as also in the explanations of dlr.de .

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation at St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport will be further developed, as the uncertainty about financing for regional airfields continues to urge. However, the focus on repair measures shows that the airport operators are trying to maintain safe operation despite the difficult circumstances.