The Doorway to Three Countries: The World's Only Unique Airport
Located near the French city of Mulhouse, the "EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg" International Airport is the only airport in the world distinguished by the fact that it provides access to three countries simultaneously. This international airport is considered a joint facility for Basel (Switzerland), Mulhouse (France), and Freiburg (Germany). Situated 6 kilometers from Basel, 22 kilometers from Mulhouse, and 70 kilometers from Freiburg, arriving passengers can enter any of these three countries. Despite being located on French territory, the airport's status as part of the customs zone of Basel, Switzerland, was established by an agreement signed between the three nations in 1946. The airport is accessible from all three countries without any customs or border restrictions. Following Switzerland's joining of the Schengen Agreement in 2009, regulations for passengers from the Schengen zone and other regions are handled separately.
Due to its unusual status, EuroAirport has three IATA (International Air Transport Association) codes – BSL (Basel), MLH (Mulhouse), and EAP (EuroAirport). As is well known, every international airport is assigned a three-letter code by IATA. In 1930, Switzerland and France initiated the joint construction of the airport. Following negotiations, the site was determined, and construction began in 1946. Thus, an airport with a 1,200-meter runway was built 4 kilometers north of the French town of Blotzheim. Between 1951 and 1953, the airport was expanded, the runway length reached 1,600 meters, and the "Zollfreistrasse" (customs-free road) was constructed. This allowed access to the airport from Basel without passing through French border control.
In 1960, a referendum was held in Basel, and the airport area was expanded. In subsequent years, the terminals and the runway were further extended. In 1972, the north-south runway was lengthened to 3,900 meters. In 1984, the number of passengers reached 1 million. In 1987, the airport was officially renamed "EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg," with passenger numbers reaching 2 million in 1992 and 3 million in 1998. In 2004, with the low-cost carrier "EasyJet" opening a new base there, passenger numbers increased further, reaching 4 million in 2006. Along with regular passenger flights, special flights are organized during the tourist season. The airport has separate exit gates for Germany, France, and Switzerland.
