Zurich Airport increases security after rise in ticketless passenger incidents

In response to these incidents, Zurich authorities have enhanced security with more cameras and sensors. Despite these measures and the high volume of approximately 11 million passengers annually at Zurich Airport, no passenger has successfully flown out without a ticket according to airport records.

Zurich Airport is experiencing significant growth in passenger numbers and expects over 32 million travelers this year. CEO Lukas Brosi remarked: "Summer business will determine whether it will be slightly more or slightly less than 32 million passengers." The airport handled over 2.7 million passengers in April alone.

Elsewhere, Munich faced similar issues when a Norwegian man made two attempts to fly without a ticket; his second attempt was successful until he requested return travel from Stockholm.

The U.S. has also seen instances like Svetlana Dali traveling from New York to Paris without a ticket and another stowaway on a Seattle-Honolulu flight discovered only after taxiing began.

Kunz emphasized that while all passengers undergo security screening, boarding pass checks can vary: "Although some people travelled far without a boarding pass, they were subject to security checks."

Digital boarding passes may contribute to these occurrences by facilitating forgery opportunities for stowaways who bypass gate staff's cursory inspections. Labor shortages and overstretched staff might also enable unticketed passengers' success in evading detection at busy airports.

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