Pilots at the airline SWISS could strike from 17 October 2022 if their demands are not met, reported RTS. Pilots at the airline are remunerated under a collective labour agreement. The airline recently presented an offer CHF 60 million higher than their orignal offer. However, on 16 September 2022, Aeropers, a union representing the pilots, […]
Swiss government opens door to car sharing fast lane
This week, Switzerland’s federal government opened the door to faster car sharing lanes from 1 February 2023, reported RTS. Federal government amendments to Switzerland’s road sign ordinance to include car sharing signs mean cantons and cities will soon be able to introduce car sharing lanes. Car sharing, or pooling, encourages car sharing by allowing vehicles […]
Federal court decision could end plans for free public transport across Switzerland
A decision by the government of the canton of Fribourg to declare free public transport illegal is being challenged at Switzerland’s Federal Tribunal. A decision by Switzerland’s top court in line with Fribourg’s government could impact plans for free public transport in other Swiss cantons. Switzerland’s constitution appears to exclude the possibility of free public […]
Swiss ski resorts may have to close lifts to save electricity this winter
This coming winter, Swiss ski resorts may be required to cut services to save electricity, reported RTS. Ski lifts and snow making equipment consume the same amount of electricity as 30,000 to 40,000 Swiss households do across a year. It has been suggested that Switzerland’s federal government may require lift operators to cut electricity usage […]
Swiss plan to register air passenger details sparks criticism
Switzerland’s federal government wants to create a database containing the personal details of air passengers to counter terrorism and crime, reported RTS. However, the project has drawn serious criticism. After the terrorist attack in the US on 11 September 2001, America’s federal government demanded access to passenger data. Destination, name, passport number, birth date and […]
How important is the “CH” sticker on Swiss cars abroad?
The “CH” sticker that Swiss drivers must legally put on their vehicles before entering another country is required under the 1968 international convention on road traffic. Under the convention, any vehicle driven outside its home territory must display country initials made up of one to three latin characters. Most European plates incorporate the required identifying […]
Moving glacier leaves Italian building in Switzerland
Two thirds of an Italian building on the Alpine border between Italy and Switzerland is now in Switzerland, reported Le Matin. The incident has triggered three years of intensive transnational negotiations with no breakthrough. The Rifugio Guide del Cervino (pictured above) sits at 3,480 metres above sea level on the border of the ski domains […]
Allowing trucks on Swiss roads at night under discussion
Under current rules trucks are not allowed on Swiss roads between 10pm and 5am and on Sundays, with some exceptions. However, the Swiss authorities are discussing the possibility of loosening these rules in order reduce daytime traffic, reported Le Matin. The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) is considering reducing the time period at night when heavy […]
SWISS announces further flight cancellations in autumn
On 26 June 2022, SWISS announced further cancellations, this time flights scheduled between August and October, reported 20 Minutes. These cancellations follow others announced in early June 2022. A company spokesperson described the cancellations as unavoidable and due to contraints and operational challenges across the industry. In a press release the company announced it would […]
Swiss parliamentarian calls for cuts on marketing to distant tourists
Christophe Clivaz, a parliamentarian from the Green Party in Valais is demanding that subsidies given to Swiss Tourism not be used to promote tourism that involves flying, reported 20 Minutes. Switzerland is busy developing sustainable tourism under the brand Swisstainable. However, when tourism booms aviation booms with it. So how can tourism be sustainable? asks […]
