Spotting at Zürich Airport (ZRH)
While waiting for my flight to Zagreb, there was an excellent opportunity to do a bit of spotting around Kloten. Terminal E hosts non-Schengen international, mostly long-haul flights. Like this one Thai Airways Boeing 777. The captain is preparing the airplane for the next flight.

Before the arrival of 777s, one of the main workhorses for Swiss International Air Lines was (and still is) Airbus A330.

Swiss’ leisure airline Edelweiss Air is using entirely Airbus fleet, like this one A330.

A view over this Swiss A340 overlooks the main terminal of Zürich Airport (ZRH).


On the observation deck on top of Terminal B. Aeroflot Airbus A321 (VP-BKI, MSN 7137), delivered one year earlier in 2016, just pushed back.

Terminal A is where the control tower is located.

Maintenance area.

Edelweiss Air Airbus A320 (HB-IJW, MSN 2134), delivered at the end of 2003 was part of the Swiss’ fleet before joining the leisure airline. In the backgroung Turkish Airlines A330 is probably waiting for some missing parts 🙂

Takeoff queue is forming at the threshold of Runway 16, while Runway 14 is used for landing.

Swiss Airbus A340 (HB-JMM, MSN 154), taking off. The airplane was scrapped after three months.

Swiss Boeing 777-300ER (HB-JND, MSN 44585), just one of the replacements for the ageing fleet od A340s. This one was delivered one year before. Notice the departing traffic at the top of the picture 🙂

Swiss Airbus A330 (HB-JND, MSN 1290) climbing above the runway.

Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER (B-KPD, MSN 36155), Hong Kong bound.

easyJet A319 (G-EZDU, MSN 3735), was flying for 10 years wearing the EU flag and the British registration. Beginning 2018 it was re-registered to company’s Austrian division under OE-LQN.

Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER (HS-TKQ, MSN 41526).

Edelweiss Air Airbus A330 (HB-JHQ, MSN 1193), retracting landing gear.

In front of the main terminal building, brand new Pegasus Airlines Airbus A320neo (TC-NBH, MSN 7399) is docking at Terminal B, delivered only three months ago.

Swiss Airbus A320 (HB-IJJ, MSN 585), taxiing towards the active runway is more than 20 years in the company’s fleet.

Looking through the sea of red and white, Swiss Airbus A220 is spooling engines for takeoff from Runway 28.

Air France A318 is taxiing between terminals.

Swiss Airbus A321 (HB-IOO, MSN 7007) only a year old is getting towed towards the parking position.

Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 (HB-JVE, MSN 11459), operating occasionally scheduled flights for Swiss, just connected to the bridge and de-boarding first passengers.

Air Malta Airbus A320 (9H-AEP, MSN 3056), taxiing towards the active runway.

Freshly arrived pack of Airbus birds.

Swiss Boeing 777 (HB-JNG, MSN 62752), dwarfing the local traffic.

Swiss Avro RJ100 (HB-IXT, MSN 3259), taking off from Runway 28. The fleet of Avros was eventually retired and replaced by Airbus A220s.

BA CityFlyer Embraer E190 prepared for the flight after push back.

Austrian Bombardier Q400 is catching the last sunbeams under the very crowded sky.
Takeoff from Zürich Airport (ZRH)
Boarding the Croatia Airlines Bombardier Q400 (9A-CQC, MSN 4258).

The airplane joined the fleet in 2009 and was named after the Croatian region — Istra.

Takeoff from Zürich Airport (ZRH) runway 28.
En route and landing
Safety card on board Croatia Airlines’ Q400.

A glimpse of our Dash parked on the remote stand at Zagreb Airport (ZAG), after landing.

Leaving Zagreb Airport (ZAG).


Route overview.