Interlaken Air Base

The Interlaken Air Base was closed as a direct result of the Swiss military reform program known as 'Armee XXI'. This major restructuring of the Swiss Armed Forces, implemented in the early 2000s, aimed to create a smaller, more modern, and more professional military while significantly reducing costs. The plan involved consolidating military assets and closing redundant facilities. The Swiss Air Force reduced its number of primary jet fighter bases from three to two, choosing to maintain operations at Payerne and Meiringen while closing Interlaken. The decision was strategic, focusing resources on the remaining, modernized airfields.

Since its closure to military flight operations, the former air base has been repurposed into a large, multi-functional event venue. The vast, flat expanse of the runway, taxiways, and aprons makes it an ideal location for large-scale gatherings. Its current primary uses include:

- **Music Festivals:** It is most famous as the home of the 'Greenfield Festival', one of Switzerland's largest open-air rock music festivals, held annually since 2005.

- **Other Major Events:** The site hosts numerous other events, such as the 'Trucker & Country Festival', car shows, trade fairs, and sporting competitions.

- **Jungfrau Park:** A portion of the site is adjacent to or used by the Jungfrau Park (formerly known as Mystery Park), a theme park focused on world mysteries.

- **Other Uses:** The paved surfaces are also used for driver training, vehicle testing, and as extensive parking for major regional events. The land remains under the ownership of the Swiss federal government (Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport - DDPS).

Interlaken Air Base was one of the most important and iconic airfields of the Swiss Air Force for over 60 years. Its history includes:

- **World War II Origins:** Established during WWII as a key 'Reduit' airfield within the fortified national redoubt of the Swiss Alps. Its strategic location in a deep valley was intended to protect air assets from enemy attack and allow for operations even if the Swiss Plateau were overrun.

- **Cold War Bastion:** During the Cold War, it was a primary operational base for jet fighters. It was home to various famous squadrons and aircraft types over the decades, including the de Havilland Vampire, de Havilland Venom, Hawker Hunter, and finally the Northrop F-5E/F Tiger II.

- **Unique Infrastructure:** The base was known for its unique infrastructure, including hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) built directly into the surrounding rock faces and hillsides, making them difficult to spot and destroy. The runway itself is situated dramatically between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with steep mountains on either side, making approaches and departures a challenge reserved for highly skilled pilots.

- **Operational Role:** It served as a frontline air defense and ground attack base, responsible for protecting Swiss airspace. It also functioned as a training and logistics hub for the Air Force.

The prospects for reopening Interlaken Air Base for regular aviation are very low. While there have been various local and regional initiatives over the years advocating for a partial or full reopening for civilian aviation (particularly for business jets and general aviation to support the high-end tourism industry of the Jungfrau Region), these proposals have consistently faced significant obstacles. The main challenges include:

- **Local Opposition:** Strong opposition from local residents and environmental groups due to concerns about noise pollution in the popular tourist and residential valley.

- **Economic Viability:** The high costs associated with re-certifying, maintaining, and operating an airport to modern standards are substantial. Furthermore, the current use as a highly successful and profitable event venue provides a strong economic counter-argument to converting it back to an airfield.

- **Lack of Political Will:** There is no official plan or political will from the Swiss federal government or the military to reactivate the base for aviation purposes. The strategic decision to consolidate air power at other bases remains in effect. Consequently, the site is expected to continue its role as an event space for the foreseeable future.