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 The US has given the European Union an ultimatum - grant access to sensitive police data or else lose access to visa-free travel for EU citizens. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260506/us-threatens-to-scrap-eu-visa-waivers-over-data-sharing-demands Wed, 06 May 2026 12:42:51 +0200 us-threatens-to-scrap-eu-visa-waivers-over-data-sharing-demands As jet fuel prices continue to soar – including for Switzerland’s airlines – spending summer holidays abroad in 2026 will become quite a bit more expensive. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260430/how-much-more-will-you-spend-on-your-airline-tickets-in-switzerland-this-summer Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:05:22 +0200 how-much-more-will-you-spend-on-your-airline-tickets-in-switzerland-this-summer Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea and other low-cost airlines are feeling the financial pain from high jet fuel prices as a result of the Middle East war and are cutting flights. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260428/budget-airlines-first-to-cut-flights-as-jet-fuel-prices-soar Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:39:16 +0200 budget-airlines-first-to-cut-flights-as-jet-fuel-prices-soar Europe is bracing for potential jet fuel shortages resulting from the ongoing international conflict in the Middle East. If your flight is affected, what are your rights? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260424/will-you-be-compensated-if-your-european-flight-is-cancelled-due-to-jet-fuel-shortages Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:10:14 +0200 will-you-be-compensated-if-your-european-flight-is-cancelled-due-to-jet-fuel-shortages Booking the cheapest fares with Swiss airlines soon means packing lighter. The new ‘Basic’ ticket changes what counts as included baggage https://www.thelocal.ch/20260424/why-swiss-travellers-will-have-to-pay-extra-for-carry-on-under-lufthansa-groups-new-fares Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:27:13 +0200 why-swiss-travellers-will-have-to-pay-extra-for-carry-on-under-lufthansa-groups-new-fares Even though it is scaling down on its own operations, SWISS will help maintain Lufthansa’s flights after the German carrier announced thousands of cancellations due to the fuel crisis. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260423/swiss-airline-steps-in-to-help-lufthansa-operate-more-flights Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:23:41 +0200 swiss-airline-steps-in-to-help-lufthansa-operate-more-flights Popular flight routes around Europe are almost impossible for passengers to book by train because of a "stone age" ticketing system, a new report has found as the EU is set to unveil plans for it single ticket system. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260421/stone-age-ticket-system-preventing-travellers-in-europe-from-taking-trains Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:50:54 +0200 stone-age-ticket-system-preventing-travellers-in-europe-from-taking-trains The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Friday called on authorities to put "well-coordinated plans in place" in the event of jet-fuel rationing due to the Middle East war. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260418/airlines-fear-jet-fuel-rationing-due-to-mideast-war Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:14:22 +0200 airlines-fear-jet-fuel-rationing-due-to-mideast-war Switzerland’s Edelweiss airline is eliminating flights to two US destinations from its summer schedule, citing ‘geopolitical’ reasons. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260416/edelweiss-airline-scraps-some-flights-between-switzerland-and-the-united-states Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:42:11 +0200 edelweiss-airline-scraps-some-flights-between-switzerland-and-the-united-states The risk of jet fuel shortages in Europe grows each day tankers remain stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, although it isn't clear when exactly supplies will run out and what that will mean for travellers. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260417/how-soon-could-jet-fuel-shortages-ground-flights-in-europe Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:50:53 +0200 how-soon-could-jet-fuel-shortages-ground-flights-in-europe Between April 15th and May 20th, 2026, Basel EuroAirport will be renovating its main runway, causing all but one of its airlines to cancel their flights during this time. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251215/basel-airport-flights-to-be-hit-in-spring-2026-with-only-one-airline-to-operate Mon, 15 Dec 2025 17:00:53 +0100 basel-airport-flights-to-be-hit-in-spring-2026-with-only-one-airline-to-operate The European Commission said on Tuesday it fears Europe could face jet fuel supply issues "in the near future" with no end in sight to the Iran war that's hit global energy markets. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260414/europe-could-face-jet-fuel-supply-issues-in-near-future Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:57:47 +0200 europe-could-face-jet-fuel-supply-issues-in-near-future As the war in the Middle East continues and fuel supplies tighten, some airlines have begun to cut their flights. What is the situation in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260410/will-travellers-in-switzerland-be-affected-by-europes-looming-jet-fuel-crisis Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:11:46 +0200 will-travellers-in-switzerland-be-affected-by-europes-looming-jet-fuel-crisis Despite claims that the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) border checks would be "fully operational" by April 10th, many airports have reported disruption and some Channel ports don't even have the technology for full rollout yet. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260411/full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:56:38 +0200 full-rollout-of-new-eu-border-checks-hit-by-delays-and-disruption Despite a number of cancellations, the national airline, SWISS, is adding new destinations and increasing frequency of certain flights, in the coming months. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251028/this-is-where-swiss-airline-will-fly-to-in-the-summer-of-2026 Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:20:01 +0100 this-is-where-swiss-airline-will-fly-to-in-the-summer-of-2026 Despite cancellations of some flights, Switzerland's national airline, SWISS, will operate additional ones to a number of popular short-haul destinations. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260402/airline-swiss-to-add-74-new-european-flights-this-summer Thu, 02 Apr 2026 11:12:44 +0200 airline-swiss-to-add-74-new-european-flights-this-summer European airports and airlines organisations issued on Monday the latest warning about the next implementation phase of the EU's new biometric border system, “as the transition phase comes to an end right in the travel peak of the Easter holidays.” https://www.thelocal.ch/20260330/european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Mon, 30 Mar 2026 21:31:07 +0200 european-airports-record-longer-border-waiting-times-as-ees-deadline-looms Summer travel to and from Switzerland will become more expensive as SWISS and Edelweiss increase their fuel surcharges. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260330/switzerlands-airlines-raise-their-fares-ahead-of-peak-summer-travel-season Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:05:28 +0200 switzerlands-airlines-raise-their-fares-ahead-of-peak-summer-travel-season The UK government is set to further increase the cost of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for travellers from Europe, coinciding with the implementation of tougher entry rules. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260207/uk-to-hike-price-of-electronic-travel-authorisation-for-foreign-travellers Sat, 07 Feb 2026 10:19:47 +0100 uk-to-hike-price-of-electronic-travel-authorisation-for-foreign-travellers The British government has alerted UK tourists travelling to the Schengen area around Easter about the full implementation of EU’s new Entry/Exit border system (EES), urging travellers to allow additional time for journeys. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260327/uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:40:25 +0100 uk-warns-of-easter-travel-delays-to-due-to-new-eu-border-checks