Switzerland Today
Dear Swiss Abroad,
Switzerland is sliding towards an aviation fuel shortage: supplies in the compulsory stockpile quantity are only sufficient for 72 days, while the legal requirement is at least 90. Despite this, the industry remains calm.
And the Swiss Alpine Club is reporting a record year for overnight stays in 2025. We reveal not only the figures, but also which hut was the most popular last year.
Best wishes from Bern
Imagine that Switzerland is preparing for a global energy crisis, but there is less fuel in the compulsory aviation reserves than planned. While geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are rising, Switzerland’s aviation fuel stocks are currently below the legal norm.
Although the law requires compulsory stocks to cover 90 days, a spokesperson for the Federal Office for National Economic Supply (FONES) confirmed that stocks are currently sufficient for only 72 days. This shortfall is sensitive, as the reserves are intended to serve as a buffer in the event of a crisis, such as the tense situation in the Middle East and the uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
The reason for the shortfall lies in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic: supply chains came to a standstill after the lockdowns. While air traffic later recovered quickly, the replenishment of stocks lagged behind. This delay has now left Switzerland with reduced reserves at a time of global uncertainty.
Industry figures, however, downplay the concern. Carbura director Andrea Studer told Swiss public broadcaster RTS that current stocks would last for around three months in the event of a total import ban. If imports were to fall by just 25%, stocks could even be stretched to up to twelve months through targeted management.
As for the Strait of Hormuz, Swiss public broadcaster RSI published a major investigation into its impact on global food supplies and agriculture.
The Strait of Hormuz carries around a quarter of the world’s oil. However, the sea passage is just as crucial for fertilisers, with about a third of global trade passing through this bottleneck. Without it, yields fall, making food scarcer and more expensive worldwide.
Switzerland hardly imports fertiliser directly from the Gulf. However, according to RSI, 73% of Swiss food imports come from the EU. As European agriculture is heavily dependent on these raw materials, disruptions in the Gulf have an indirect but noticeable impact on Swiss supermarkets.
While wealthy countries such as Switzerland can cushion price increases, a blockade would directly threaten food security in parts of Africa. The Strait of Hormuz is difficult to bypass, and conflict in the region can quickly amplify global instability beyond energy markets.
Let’s stay on the subject of transport. Air navigation service provider Skyguide had to switch to “manual operation” again today at Zurich Airport. There was concern when a system error reduced capacity significantly – just as weather conditions deteriorated.
When digital systems fail, aviation returns to analogue procedures. An assistance system for delayed landings provided unreliable data, forcing air traffic controllers in Zurich to switch to manual handover procedures. This tried-and-tested but time-consuming method led Skyguide to reduce approach capacity by 30% as a precaution.
Surprisingly, the disruption had limited impact on travellers. Despite the IT issue, no flights were initially cancelled. A Zurich Airport spokeswoman said capacity would have been reduced anyway due to strong bise winds.
The incident is part of a series of technical problems. Last June, a similar radar malfunction occurred at Geneva Airport. Reports by Swiss public broadcaster SRF also point to broader financial pressures and a need for reform at Skyguide.
The Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) recorded 409,000 overnight stays in 2025, its most successful year for mountain huts on record.
Have you ever climbed to a hut in the Swiss mountains? According to the SAC, they are becoming increasingly popular. Occupancy rose by 12.7% compared to 2024, with the winter season showing particularly strong growth.
However, the strong figures mask growing challenges. A study commissioned by the SAC found that every third hut could be at risk due to thawing permafrost.
For this reason, and because water supply is becoming more difficult and weather conditions more extreme, the SAC expects annual costs of CHF20 million to CHF25 million ($25.57 million to $31.96 million) by 2040. Around a third of this is directly linked to climate change, according to the organisation.
Translated using AI/amva
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