As the war in the Middle East continues and fuel supplies tighten, some airlines have began to cut their flights. What is the situation in Switzerland?
It is not only motorists who are impacted by surging fuel prices at the pump – in Switzerland, they have gone by up to 25 percent since the war in Iran began on February 28th.
Travellers are being affected as well, as some airlines and airports have taken measures to counter the rising cost of fuel – namely, trimming their flight schedules and raising ticket prices.
What is the situation in Switzerland?
Let’s just say that there is good and bad news for travellers.
The good news – at least for the time being – is that according to SWISS spokesperson Meike Fuhlrott, the supply of aviation fuel at the airline’s hub in Zurich (which is also the hub for its sister airline, Edelweiss) is guaranteed.
“We do not currently see any specific restrictions on flight operations at our destinations either,” she said.
Fuhlrott pointed out, however, that “we are monitoring the situation very closely because it could change at short notice.”
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Now for the bad news
Because of rising fuel prices, both airlines have increased the international surcharges on air fares.
These surcharges are additional fees added by airlines to cover rising operational costs – such as fuel.
The exact amount of this hike depends on the specific route.
READ MORE: Switzerland’s airlines raise their fares ahead of peak summer travel season
And even if travellers plan to fly to and from Switzerland on other airlines, they will not escape having to pay higher prices.
That’s because other carriers within the Lufthansa group – to which both SWISS and Edelweiss belong – as well as other airlines, are also raising their prices.
According to Euronews, “ticket prices could remain elevated for months. even if the war de-escalates.”
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What about cancellations?
From March 29th until October 24th, SWISS is suspending hundreds of its flights – 326 to be exact.
The US-bound flight impacted by the cuts is the one from Zurich to Chicago: its frequency will be reduced from 14 to 12 weekly.
Another long-haul route affected by the cut is the one from Zurich to Shanghai – it will only fly three times a week instead of seven.
However, these cancellations are not caused by higher jet fuel prices; instead, the reason for these cuts is the shortage of pilots and aircraft.
Specifically, the airline is short of captains and first officers for the Airbus A320 and A321, as well as the A330 and A340, because many are currently retraining to fly the new Airbus A350.
In addition, 11 aircraft are grounded due to engine problems, which makes operational planning all the more difficult.