EU Entry-Exit System Triggers Hours-Long Queues at Swiss Airports Ahead of Summer Peak
Federal Council Keeps 2026 Work-Permit Quotas for Non-EU Nationals Unchanged
Foreign Workforce Drives Swiss Job Boom: 300 000 New Positions Created Since 2020
Latest News
Switzerland retains ‘low-risk’ ranking in 4 July Travel Risk Calculator update
An automated 4 July refresh of Travel Risk Calculator keeps Switzerland in the lowest risk tier (15/100) with no new security or health advisories. The update confirms that corporate assignees face minimal safety threats, although alpine weather and logistical challenges such as airport queues remain practical considerations.
Holiday getaway begins: Gotthard Tunnel traffic builds as Swiss schools start summer break
Live traffic reports on 4 July show stop-and-go conditions at the Gotthard Tunnel as the summer holiday exodus starts. The congestion affects international assignees and goods moving between northern Europe and Italy via Switzerland, and mobility planners are urged to allow extra transit time or re-route via rail.
Swiss airports brace for record summer queues as EES border checks bite
Zurich, Geneva and Basel airports say passengers should arrive at least two hours early this summer because biometric EES border checks, combined with record holiday traffic, are lengthening queues. Business travellers are urged to pad schedules and use online services to avoid missed connections.
Swiss Airports Warn of Summer Queues as EU Entry/Exit System Bites
Zurich, Geneva and Basel airports are telling passengers to arrive up to three hours early as the EU’s new biometric EES checks compound peak-season crowds. The longer queues affect all non-EU/EFTA visitors and risk missed connections for business travellers transiting Switzerland.
Airlines and Airports Urge Brussels to Loosen EES Rules Ahead of Peak Season
European aviation bodies, including Swiss airports, have asked the Commission for urgent flexibility to pause biometric EES processing during peak periods. Without action, they warn of five-hour queues and cascading flight delays across Schengen gateways.
EFTA and Vietnam Seal Free-Trade Deal, Opening Door to Easier Business Mobility
Switzerland and its EFTA partners have wrapped up an FTA with Vietnam that includes liberal rules on short-term business travel, intra-company transfers and recognition of professional qualifications—promising faster visas and smoother market entry for Swiss multinationals.
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse Adds Eight Routes, Targets 100 Direct Destinations
Basel-Mulhouse is launching eight extra routes this summer, pushing its network to 100 direct destinations and reinforcing its role as a key mobility hub for Swiss, French and German business travellers.
Track works finish on schedule: full rail access to Zurich Airport restored from 3 July
SBB has completed six-weeks of engineering on the Oerlikon–Bassersdorf line, restoring normal rail service to Zurich Airport from 3 July. Diversions and train cancellations that complicated business-trip logistics have ended, and capacity increases will support future passenger growth and EES-related dwell times.
Century-Old Furka Alpine Steam Railway Drives Heritage-Tourism Surge
The volunteer-operated Furka Steam Railway is marking 100 years of mountain rail adventure, attracting international tourists and prompting temporary service boosts on connecting rail and bus routes.
TGV Lyria issues new France–Switzerland timetable as seasonal schedule ends 3 July
The PDF timetable that governed TGV Lyria services from 30 March to 3 July expires this Friday. From 4 July, Switzerland–France high-speed services adopt new departure times and frequencies, making it essential for business travellers to reconfirm bookings and update corporate booking tools.
Schengen Working Party meets in Brussels; Swiss delegation presses for phased EES roll-out
At the 3 July Schengen Working Party, Switzerland lobbied EU partners for phased land-border application of the EES biometric system and for breathing-space before ETIAS goes live. While the Commission insists any derogations must be temporary, the discussion opens the door to operational relief for cross-border commuters and logistics operators.