Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) scrapped a further 12 return flights on Sunday, 11 January, after night-time temperatures on the Swiss Plateau plunged to –10 °C and thick ice coated parked aircraft. The newest cancellations—affecting Zurich rotations to Nice, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, London, Milan and Luxembourg—push total weather-related cancellations since New Year’s Day beyond 80 and have inconvenienced an estimated 10,000 passengers, many of them business travellers returning from holidays. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-11/ch/swiss-cancels-more-flights-as-deep-freeze-grips-switzerland/))
Ground crews at Zurich’s Kloten hub have been operating almost around the clock to keep de-icing trucks moving, but arriving flights averaged 90-minute delays on Sunday morning. To prevent long-haul knock-on delays, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation granted SWISS limited night-curfew exemptions—an unusual step that underscores the operational stress. Geneva Airport was less affected and has become the preferred diversion point for time-sensitive travellers.
![Deep-Freeze Forces SWISS to Cancel More Flights, Disrupting Corporate Travel Itineraries]()
For passengers suddenly facing reroutes or extended stays, VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) can quickly confirm whether existing Schengen permissions still suffice and, if not, streamline the application of any required extensions or new visas. The platform’s real-time alerts and digital tools also help corporate travel teams stay ahead of entry-rule shifts during disruptive weather events.
For corporate mobility teams the episode is a reminder that winter contingencies extend beyond insurance clauses. Employers with EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) reporting obligations should instruct travellers to keep original boarding passes if itineraries change; missing documentation can trigger costly carbon-reporting gaps. Travel managers are also advised to lengthen connection buffers and pre-clear alternative rail routes, especially on the Zurich–Frankfurt and Geneva–Paris corridors where high-speed services can substitute for short-haul flights.
Looking ahead, MeteoSwiss forecasts sub-zero highs through mid-week, meaning fresh cancellations cannot be ruled out. Airlines typically re-seat passengers automatically, but those on tight client schedules may prefer voluntary re-routing via rail or via airports in Milan or Munich. Immigration practitioners note that same-day itinerary changes sometimes invalidate Schengen “90/180” calculations for non-EU nationals; a prudent step is to run an automated day-count before deciding whether to extend a stay in Switzerland.
Ground crews at Zurich’s Kloten hub have been operating almost around the clock to keep de-icing trucks moving, but arriving flights averaged 90-minute delays on Sunday morning. To prevent long-haul knock-on delays, the Federal Office of Civil Aviation granted SWISS limited night-curfew exemptions—an unusual step that underscores the operational stress. Geneva Airport was less affected and has become the preferred diversion point for time-sensitive travellers.
For passengers suddenly facing reroutes or extended stays, VisaHQ’s Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/) can quickly confirm whether existing Schengen permissions still suffice and, if not, streamline the application of any required extensions or new visas. The platform’s real-time alerts and digital tools also help corporate travel teams stay ahead of entry-rule shifts during disruptive weather events.
For corporate mobility teams the episode is a reminder that winter contingencies extend beyond insurance clauses. Employers with EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS) reporting obligations should instruct travellers to keep original boarding passes if itineraries change; missing documentation can trigger costly carbon-reporting gaps. Travel managers are also advised to lengthen connection buffers and pre-clear alternative rail routes, especially on the Zurich–Frankfurt and Geneva–Paris corridors where high-speed services can substitute for short-haul flights.
Looking ahead, MeteoSwiss forecasts sub-zero highs through mid-week, meaning fresh cancellations cannot be ruled out. Airlines typically re-seat passengers automatically, but those on tight client schedules may prefer voluntary re-routing via rail or via airports in Milan or Munich. Immigration practitioners note that same-day itinerary changes sometimes invalidate Schengen “90/180” calculations for non-EU nationals; a prudent step is to run an automated day-count before deciding whether to extend a stay in Switzerland.
