https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Edelweiss airline, which connects Zurich with dozens of holiday destinations around the world, is being criticised for urging travellers to escape Switzerland’s heatwave on one of its planes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260730/swiss-airline-under-fire-for-its-insensitive-heatwave-ad-campaign Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:55:53 +0200 swiss-airline-under-fire-for-its-insensitive-heatwave-ad-campaign Peak travel season is in full swing, but are there certain Swiss regions you should not visit this summer because of alerts in place? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260729/drought-and-fire-warnings-are-there-parts-of-switzerland-to-avoid-this-summer Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:35:12 +0200 drought-and-fire-warnings-are-there-parts-of-switzerland-to-avoid-this-summer European airport bosses have warned that new EU border checks are significantly increasing waiting times for British nationals arriving in the bloc, in some cases tripling the average. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260720/airport-bosses-warn-eus-new-border-checks-triple-waiting-times-for-brits Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:22:17 +0200 airport-bosses-warn-eus-new-border-checks-triple-waiting-times-for-brits Visiting Switzerland can be confusing — especially if you are aiming to visit a place that has a very different name in the local language, like Lake Geneva for example. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230623/learn-switzerlands-real-place-names-so-you-dont-get-lost Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:18:23 +0200 learn-switzerlands-real-place-names-so-you-dont-get-lost The European Parliament voted for a major tightening of air passenger rights – including in Switzerland. Here’s what you can look forward to. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260713/how-will-your-passenger-rights-be-protected-by-swiss-airlines Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:24:50 +0200 how-will-your-passenger-rights-be-protected-by-swiss-airlines The EU's border agency Frontex developed an app allowing travellers to pre-register for its Entry/Exit System rollout. With the summer travel season upon us and queues expected at tourist hotspots, what happened to the app and which countries are using it? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260713/which-european-countries-are-already-using-the-ees-pre-registration-app Mon, 13 Jul 2026 10:23:13 +0200 which-european-countries-are-already-using-the-ees-pre-registration-app With longer passport control queues during summer holidays, the Swiss government would like to temporarily pause strict border checks at its airports. But for that, it needs the green light from the European Commission. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260710/switzerland-asks-eu-for-green-light-to-ease-border-controls-at-airports Fri, 10 Jul 2026 11:59:12 +0200 switzerland-asks-eu-for-green-light-to-ease-border-controls-at-airports The EU is expected to delay the launch of its travel authorisation scheme known as ETIAS until 2027 because of problems and delays with the rollout of the biometric EES border checks this year, according to reports. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260709/eu-set-to-delay-roll-out-of-e20-etias-travel-authorisation-scheme-until-2027 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:25:53 +0200 eu-set-to-delay-roll-out-of-e20-etias-travel-authorisation-scheme-until-2027 The European Commission is refusing to suspend strict new border controls despite pressure from airports and airlines who have demanded they be put on hold until after summer amid fears of chaos at holiday hotspots. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260708/europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:42:33 +0200 europes-ees-border-checks-wont-be-suspended-eu-insists MEPs in the European Parliament have given the green light to a raft of reforms around air passenger rights that covers everything from compensation for disruption to seating rules for those travelling with children. So how will the changes impact you and why have airlines reacted angrily? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260616/what-europes-new-deal-for-airline-passenger-rights-means-for-you Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:31:49 +0200 what-europes-new-deal-for-airline-passenger-rights-means-for-you Whether you are driving, taking the train, or flying to your destination, there are certain things you need to know before you travel in Switzerland this summer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260629/what-you-should-know-about-travel-in-switzerland-this-summer Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:48:18 +0200 what-you-should-know-about-travel-in-switzerland-this-summer EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Friday there was "still quite a lot of work to do" to resolve issues with a new border check system blamed for severely disrupting European air travel. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260703/lot-of-work-needed-to-resolve-europes-border-travel-woes-eu-chief-admits Fri, 03 Jul 2026 16:41:03 +0200 lot-of-work-needed-to-resolve-europes-border-travel-woes-eu-chief-admits Faced with a combination of summer travel and new EES border checks, Swiss airports are advising that passengers prepare for longer queues and leave extra time to deal with delays. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260703/swiss-airports-advise-travellers-to-get-ready-for-long-queues-over-summer Fri, 03 Jul 2026 11:25:33 +0200 swiss-airports-advise-travellers-to-get-ready-for-long-queues-over-summer European airport and airline associations have once again urged the European Commission to take immediate action as they warn the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) risks travel mayhem and misery for millions this summer. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260701/critical-point-europes-airports-demand-urgent-action-to-avoid-summer-border-delays Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:37:00 +0200 critical-point-europes-airports-demand-urgent-action-to-avoid-summer-border-delays Commercial supplies of jet fuel may worsen this summer despite the improving situation in the Strait of Hormuz, EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen said Friday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260627/eu-worries-jet-fuel-supply-situation-to-worsen Sat, 27 Jun 2026 10:14:32 +0200 eu-worries-jet-fuel-supply-situation-to-worsen The extreme heat baking much of Europe this week is exposing the limits of rail infrastructure made during cooler times, leading to delays and cancellations along with warnings to travellers with health problems to avoid trips if possible. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260623/why-the-extreme-heat-is-wreaking-havoc-on-europes-trains Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:47:44 +0200 why-the-extreme-heat-is-wreaking-havoc-on-europes-trains Passengers flying from Zurich Airport will soon be able to carry up to two litres of liquids in their hand luggage after the airport installed high-tech security scanners, bringing an end to the the strict 100ml limit established in 2006. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260623/zurich-airport-relaxes-liquid-restrictions-for-hand-luggage Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:32:41 +0200 zurich-airport-relaxes-liquid-restrictions-for-hand-luggage ÖBB’s new-generation Nightjet is now running on the Vienna-Zurich route, bringing updated sleeper, couchette and seating options to one of Austria’s key international overnight rail links. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260618/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-zurich-vienna-night-trains Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:21:46 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-zurich-vienna-night-trains The planned train between Swiss cities and the UK capital could be operational as early as four years from now, the government has said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260615/switzerland-to-london-train-could-hit-the-rails-as-soon-as-2030 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:27:35 +0200 switzerland-to-london-train-could-hit-the-rails-as-soon-as-2030 Airlines will be banned from charging parents to get seats next to their children under an EU reform of passenger rights agreed on Friday that stopped short of more divisive changes, diplomats said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260613/eu-to-ban-airlines-from-charging-parents-to-sit-with-children Sat, 13 Jun 2026 10:06:35 +0200 eu-to-ban-airlines-from-charging-parents-to-sit-with-children