Chaotic Summer Flights: Severe Delays Hit One Swiss Airport
Switzerland's Airports Face Summer Flight Delays Due to Staffing Issues and ATC Strikes
Swiss airports, Geneva and Zurich, are currently experiencing above-average flight delays, with Geneva reporting somewhat longer delays than Zurich. This summer's high traffic, operational challenges, and external factors such as Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes in France are contributing to the delays.
Geneva Airport (Genève Aéroport)
Recent data shows that Geneva Airport has been dealing with arrival delays averaging between 30 to 41 minutes, while departure delays hover around 44 to 49 minutes. However, these delays are reportedly decreasing. The airport, which handles nearly 1.7 million passengers in July and August and serves 125 destinations with 48 airlines, has taken measures to manage the high traffic and reduce cascading delays. This includes opening check-in and security from 4:00 AM and installing self-check-in baggage equipment to improve flow, particularly for morning flights.
Zurich Airport
Zurich Airport, the largest and busiest in Switzerland, has also been affected by the delays. Some flights have been delayed up to an hour, with a few reaching two hours during recent disruptions. The airport, which serves 206 destinations with 63 airlines, is using advanced camera systems and planning tools to identify and mitigate delays early in aircraft preparation and operations. Demand for US travel is adding pressure on operations.
ATC Strikes and Staffing Issues
Recent disruptions were exacerbated by French ATC strikes affecting Swiss airports in early July, causing delays up to three hours in Geneva and up to two hours in Zurich. Although the strike officially ended early July, some residual delays persisted due to the resulting backlog.
The French Civil Aviation Authority, which manages air traffic control at the EuroAirport, is responsible for these staffing issues. A recent reorganization of the authority's areas has increased the workload for air traffic controllers at the EuroAirport, exacerbating the staffing shortage and contributing to the flight delays.
EuroAirport
The EuroAirport, located in the French community of Saint-Louis, is also experiencing frequent flight delays. An average delay of 20-30 minutes is common, with some planes taking off more than an hour late. Flights that had to fly over France were particularly impacted in Zurich. The situation is expected to remain tense due to the staffing shortage.
It's important to note that the Air Traffic Control strikes in France are not directly related to the reorganization of the French Civil Aviation Authority's areas, which is causing staffing issues and flight delays at the EuroAirport and potentially other airports under the control of the French Civil Aviation Authority.
Training to become an air traffic controller takes around two years, making it difficult to fill the new positions quickly. The Basler Zeitung is a newspaper that has reported on the issues at the EuroAirport.
Despite the ongoing challenges, both Geneva and Zurich airports are taking measures to improve the situation and facilitate smoother passenger flow during this busy period. The situation at Geneva airport has since calmed down, and the airport is not experiencing excessive delays.
References: [1] Geneva Airport press release [2] Zurich Airport press release [3] Geneva Airport operational data [4] Zurich Airport operational data [5] Geneva Airport delay data
- Due to the current staffing issues and Air Traffic Control (ATC) strikes in France, the high traffic at both Geneva and Zurich airports has led to increased flight delays in their respective arrivals and departures, affecting travel plans and lifestyles of passengers.
- As a result of the French ATC strikes and the reorganization of the French Civil Aviation Authority's areas, the EuroAirport has also been experiencing flight delays, affecting both Swiss and French travel, and potentially disrupting local lifestyles and travel plans.
