A fast-moving Atlantic low-pressure system swept across central and western Europe overnight, bringing gale-force winds, freezing rain and intermittent snow to dozens of major hubs. By early afternoon on 30 December, the independent tracker FlightAware had counted 4,145 flight delays and 40 cancellations across 14 European countries. Switzerland’s two international gateways—Zurich (ZRH) and Geneva (GVA)—were among the hardest-hit, reporting 153 and 91 delayed movements respectively and one cancellation each, an unusually large disruption for airports that normally boast on-time performance above 80 percent in winter.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) said the weather system forced it to reduce departure rates during the morning peak and to re-sequence long-haul arrivals that require de-icing. Passengers connecting to North-America-bound flights in Zurich faced missed connections and were automatically rebooked where possible. Ground-handling teams in both Zurich and Geneva introduced “reduced-speed” ramp procedures to protect staff from icy surfaces, further lengthening turnaround times.
Unlike France’s Charles-de-Gaulle, which saw more than 460 delays, Swiss hubs generally recover quickly because of their smaller footprints. Nevertheless, SWISS and easyJet Switzerland warned travellers to expect residual knock-on delays through the evening of 31 December as aircraft and crew rotations gradually return to schedule.
![Winter storm snarls Zurich and Geneva flights as Europe logs over 4,000 delays]()
During such volatile travel periods, ensuring that all travel documentation is accurate and up to date can speed up rerouting or rebooking. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) lets individual passengers and corporate travel coordinators obtain or amend visas online, track application status in real time and tap expert support—services that prove invaluable when sudden weather disruptions force last-minute itinerary changes.
For corporate travel managers the storm is a reminder of the fragility of winter operations in Europe. Companies with tight year-end project hand-overs were advised to activate remote-work contingencies; many chose to reroute executives through Milan-Malpensa by rail and onward flight, taking advantage of the one-hour SBB service from Zurich.
Looking ahead, Zurich Airport said it will review its de-icing fluid inventory and staffing plans. Geneva Airport, which operates with a single runway, will hold a post-event debrief with airlines to refine the snow-removal “clean sweep” window that briefly halted departures during the worst of the storm. Travellers departing Switzerland over the New-Year period are urged to monitor airline apps and arrive early, as security queues may remain longer than usual while re-booked passengers clear backlogs.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) said the weather system forced it to reduce departure rates during the morning peak and to re-sequence long-haul arrivals that require de-icing. Passengers connecting to North-America-bound flights in Zurich faced missed connections and were automatically rebooked where possible. Ground-handling teams in both Zurich and Geneva introduced “reduced-speed” ramp procedures to protect staff from icy surfaces, further lengthening turnaround times.
Unlike France’s Charles-de-Gaulle, which saw more than 460 delays, Swiss hubs generally recover quickly because of their smaller footprints. Nevertheless, SWISS and easyJet Switzerland warned travellers to expect residual knock-on delays through the evening of 31 December as aircraft and crew rotations gradually return to schedule.
During such volatile travel periods, ensuring that all travel documentation is accurate and up to date can speed up rerouting or rebooking. VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) lets individual passengers and corporate travel coordinators obtain or amend visas online, track application status in real time and tap expert support—services that prove invaluable when sudden weather disruptions force last-minute itinerary changes.
For corporate travel managers the storm is a reminder of the fragility of winter operations in Europe. Companies with tight year-end project hand-overs were advised to activate remote-work contingencies; many chose to reroute executives through Milan-Malpensa by rail and onward flight, taking advantage of the one-hour SBB service from Zurich.
Looking ahead, Zurich Airport said it will review its de-icing fluid inventory and staffing plans. Geneva Airport, which operates with a single runway, will hold a post-event debrief with airlines to refine the snow-removal “clean sweep” window that briefly halted departures during the worst of the storm. Travellers departing Switzerland over the New-Year period are urged to monitor airline apps and arrive early, as security queues may remain longer than usual while re-booked passengers clear backlogs.
