Those airports which are just a stone’s throw away from the major cities they serve perform a vital economic function by bringing in tourists and encouraging trade. Charles de Gaulle Airport, for example, serves as a gateway for travellers to and from France and is also a significant cargo hub.

So imagine if there existed an airport that served not just one, but three cities at once – and they were all in different countries. In Europe, this has been achieved. EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, also known as EuroAirport, is based in France.

As its name suggests, EuroAirport serves the cities of Basel (Switzerland), Mulhouse (France) and Freiburg (Germany). It is located in France’s Alsace region, which borders both countries – known as a “trinational Eurodistrict”, where three countries overlap in one zone.

The closest of the three cities is Basel, just 3.7 miles by road from the city centre. Mulhouse is around 16.8 miles away, while Freiburg is the most distant of the three at 44 miles by road.

The German city does have a small airport of its own, but this is currently only used for general aviation.

While both French and Swiss authorities operate most aspects of the airport, French police are responsible for its security. What this does mean though, is that it is entirely possible for one shop or cafe to take Swiss Francs and another to take Euros – so best to carry both if you intend to do a bit of shopping.

Arrivals at the airport are allowed to travel to two of the three countries without customs borders.

However, all three cities are easy to reach once you reach the airport, and taxis, buses, and trains are all available. It is also well-connected to other Swiss cities such as Zurich and Geneva.

The airport welcomes some four million passengers every year and often acts as a stopover for those travelling to other parts of Europe but also to Africa and the Middle East, such as Egypt, Morocco and Dubai.

Travelling to EuroAirport can be confusing as airlines may only show one of Basel, Freiburg and Mulhouse on the departure boards when displaying flight information. Due to its international status, EuroAirport also has three IATA airport codes: BSL (Basel) is the Swiss code, MLH (Mulhouse) is the French code and EAP (EuroAirport) is the neutral code.

The idea of a multinational airport dates back to the 1930s, though the onset of World War Two delayed plans until 1946. The Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt agreed to cover its construction costs, while France provided the land for the new airport.

Construction began in March 1946 and a provisional airport with a 3,900 foot runway was officially opened in May. In the early 1950s the east-west runway was extended to 5,200 feet and the “Zollfreistrasse” (customs-free road) was constructed, allowing access from Basel to the departure terminal without passing through French border controls.

EuroAirport is also the operating base for easyJet Switzerland, which serves a diverse short-haul network, including to Berlin, Budapest, Madrid and even Marrakech.