Does anyone know if there is penalty regime of taxes and charges for journeys originating from ZRH? That is, penalise Swiss residents leaving the country, encourage visitors/tourists into the country.

I ask as I have been playing around with some potential uses for my frequent flyer points. Considering that regardless of direction, the same number of take-offs and landings occur. The odd results for taxes & charges are:

Dubai-Zurich-Dubai 49chf
Zurich-Dubai-Zurich 267chf
Perth-Dubai-Zurich-Dubai-Perth chf100
Zurich-Dubai-Perth-Dubai-Zurich chf300+

Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, just intrigued :-)

We've noticed that all flights from Zürich are more expensive than one starting from "the other end".

My own view is that the airport has to claw back a lot of costs and debt (new terminals etc) after SwissAir went tits up.

The taxes an airport charges to an airline (per passenger) are fixed, and afaik there are only two categories, in-transit or departing-arriving.

Ok - apologies now for this long winded reply but the rules for these taxes are just as long winded. If you need to decode airport codes go to : http://www.travelselect.com/pages/unicode.html

In addition to these airport taxes there may be additional taxes if you buy from a travel agent, e.g. Swiss pass on the commission charge they pay the agents to the customer - nice huh!?

COUNTRY: SWITZERLAND
TYPE: TRANSPORTATION TAX - TICKETABLE TAX
NAME: AIRPORT PASSENGER AND SECURITY TAX (CH)
THE FOLLOWING TAXES ARE LEVIED FOR EACH DEPARTURE FROM A SWISS AIRPORT AND SHALL BE COLLECTED AT THE TIME OF TICKETING
ISSUANCE/SALE IRRESPECTIVE OF PLACE OF SALE AND PLACE OF ISSUE:
1. INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES:
CHF36.00 FROM ZRH
CHF37.00 FROM ZRH TRVL EFF. 01JAN07 TCKT EFF. 15NOV06
CHF37.00 FROM ZRH FOR EI ONLY
CHF19.00 FROM GVA
CHF15.50 FROM BSL
CHF13.50 FROM BSL FOR TRAVEL ON/AFTER 01OCT03 APPLICABLE TO AF ONLY
CHF29.00 FROM BRN
CHF29.00 FROM ACH TILL 31MAR07
CHF35.50 FROM ACH ON/AFTER 01APR07
CHF21.00 FROM LUG
CHF 7.00 FROM SIR

2. DOMESTIC DEPARTURES:
CHF14.50 FROM BSL
CHF29.00 FROM BRN
CHF19.00 FROM GVA
CHF36.00 FROM ZRH
CHF37.00 FROM ZRH TRVL EFF. 01JAN07 TCKT EFF. 15NOV06
CHF21.00 FROM LUG

CHF 7.00 FROM SIR
CHF 5.00 FROM ACH
3. TRANSFER PASSENGERS:
CHF 20.00 FROM ZRH
CHF 21.00 FROM ZRH TRVL EFF. 01JAN07 TCKT EFF. 15NOV06
CHF 21.00 FROM ZRH FOR EI ONLY
CHF 15.00 FROM BSL APPLICABLE FROM INTERNATIONAL TO INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS ONLY
CHF 14.00 FROM BSL APPLICABLE TO ALL OTHER CONNECTIONS
CHF 14.00 FROM LUG
CHF 29.00 FROM BRN
CHF 13.00 FROM GVA
EXEMPTIONS:
1. PASSENGERS IN DIRECT TRANSIT (SAME AIRCRAFT AND/OR FLIGHT NUMBER
2. INFANTS
3. CREW MEMBERS ON DUTY
4. TRAIN AND GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TYPE: TRANSPORTATION TAX
NAME: VALUE ADDED TAX
7.6 PERCENT VAT ARE LEVIED ON PURLEY SWISS DOMESTIC TICKETS IRRESPECTIVE OF TICKET ISSUE AND ISSUING CARRIER

VAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLISHED SWISS DOMESTIC FARES. THE PASSENGER RECEIPT OF THE TICKET IS VALID AS RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS OF THE VAT, THEREFORE IT MUST BEAR:
1. TAX INFORMATION ENTRY "7.6PCVATINC"
2. THE VAT NUMBER OF THE TICKETING AIRLINE IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX
3. THE PAYER'S NAME AND ADDRESS, EXCEPT FOR AMOUNTS LOWER THAN CHF200

NAME: AIRPORT TAX
TAX CODE: UU

EFFECTIVE DATE: FOR TICKETS ISSUED AND TRAVEL IMMEDIATELY COLLECTION AT: SALE
TAX DEFINITION: LEVIED ON ALL PASSENGERS DEPARTING BASEL AIRPORT
APPLICABLE TO: DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES
AMOUNT: CHF 8.85 - APPLICABLE TO DOMESTIC/INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

EXEMPTION:
1. INFANTS
2. AIRLINE CREW
3. INVOLUNTARY REROUTINGS, E.G. DUE TO TECHNICAL PROBLEMS OR
4. WEATHER CONDITIONS
5. TRANSIT (SAME FLIGHT NUMBER)

I believe that the taxes/charges at the airport in Kloten are pretty steep - That was the reason Easjet cited for moving to Basel.

Gav

so much for flight discounts as a company bonus then! Hardly worth a short flight to the uk as it is these days with all the add-ons