Airport Chaos in Switzerland During Summer Travel: Severe Delays Reported
In the heart of Europe, Switzerland's two busiest airports, Geneva and Zurich, are grappling with significant flight delays and a few cancellations, a situation that has been ongoing since early August 2025.
At Geneva Airport, passengers have been facing an average delay of around 27 minutes, with some flights experiencing delays of up to three hours. The airport, which serves 125 destinations with 48 airlines, has implemented measures such as early check-in from 4 am and self-service baggage check-in to improve passenger flow and reduce delays, particularly for morning flights. Easyjet and expanded China routes are among the prominent airlines serving Geneva [1][5][4].
Zurich Airport, the largest and busiest airport in Switzerland, is also experiencing major disruptions, with significant delays and a few cancellations affecting both European and international flights. Swiss International Air Lines and other carriers like Lufthansa, Air France, and Turkish Airlines have been notably impacted. Zurich has introduced technologies such as camera systems and operational planning tools to identify and alleviate delays early on. However, the ongoing high passenger numbers continue to complicate operations [1][2].
The root cause of these disruptions can be traced back to understaffing at the air traffic control tower, a situation made more challenging by the recent reorganization of the French Civil Aviation Authority, which manages the tower at the EuroAirport, located in the French community of Saint-Louis [3]. The reorganization has increased the number of flights that need to be monitored at the EuroAirport, requiring more personnel. Moreover, the training process to become an air traffic controller takes around two years, making it difficult to quickly fill the new positions [6].
The situation at Geneva's airport has since calmed down, and it is not currently experiencing excessive delays. Similarly, Zurich's airport situation has normalised, and delays at this particular airport are not worse than usual during the summer [7].
The disruptions were initially linked to Air Traffic Control strikes in France on July 3rd and 4th, which exacerbated delays at Swiss airports, including Zurich and Geneva [8]. The French strikes had a particularly severe impact on Geneva, causing significant delays at the beginning of July [9].
Despite the current improvements, the situation of staffing shortages and subsequent flight delays at the EuroAirport is expected to remain tense for some time [10]. Travelers at Geneva and Zurich airports should anticipate longer wait times, potential delays, and some cancellations, with airports actively employing measures to manage the situation during this peak summer period [1][2][4][5].
Passengers at Geneva Airport, attempting to adjust their travel plans, might consider altering their leisure activities due to the ongoing delays, as their vacation lifestyle could be affected. The unpredictable weather conditions, combined with the staffing inconsistencies, have made flights from Zurich Airport less reliable for those planning international travels.
