The Council of the European Union has adopted a ‘general approach’ that empowers Austria to revise its 1958 bilateral transport treaty with Switzerland and introduce limited cabotage for commercial coaches in specified border districts. Once legislative drafting is complete, operators running scheduled or occasional services between the two countries will be able to pick up and drop off domestic passengers within the Vorarlberg districts of Bludenz, Bregenz, Dornbirn and Feldkirch, as well as Tyrol’s Landeck district.
For commuters in the Alpine Rhine Valley—many of whom cross the frontier daily for work—the change promises more flexible timetables, fewer empty-seat kilometres and potentially lower fares. From a sustainability perspective, Austrian officials argue that fuller buses should reduce private-car traffic on the frequently congested A14/A13 corridor and help both countries meet EU climate targets.
For operators, HR managers and even frequent travellers who need to keep cross-border paperwork in order, VisaHQ’s Austria platform (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) can streamline the process of checking visa rules, securing Swiss or Schengen permits and tracking regulatory updates. The service’s alert tools are especially handy now that the cabotage framework is evolving, and they can just as easily cover other mobility topics—from work permits to tourist visas—across multiple jurisdictions.
![EU Gives Green Light for Austria–Switzerland Cross-Border Bus Cabotage]()
Because cabotage between an EU member state and a third country (Switzerland is outside the EU and Schengen customs territory) falls under exclusive Union competence, Vienna needed formal authorisation before amending its treaty. The Council’s decision sets a precedent for other member states seeking similar arrangements with non-EU neighbours, but also places safeguards: cabotage will be geographically restricted and subject to periodic review to prevent market distortion.
Coach companies on both sides of the border have welcomed the development, noting that they can now integrate Austrian stops such as Feldkirch Bahnhof or Bludenz Postplatz into longer Zurich–Innsbruck or St. Gallen–Bregenz routes without the administrative burden of separate licences. Mobility managers overseeing assignee travel between Austrian and Swiss sites should update internal booking tools once the amendment enters into force—likely before the 2026-27 winter season.
The European Parliament must still adopt its position, but observers expect a swift trilogue given the narrow scope of the derogation. If the timeline holds, HR teams can anticipate smoother ground-transport links for cross-border commuters by Q4 2026, complementing existing rail connectivity on the Vorarlberg line.
For commuters in the Alpine Rhine Valley—many of whom cross the frontier daily for work—the change promises more flexible timetables, fewer empty-seat kilometres and potentially lower fares. From a sustainability perspective, Austrian officials argue that fuller buses should reduce private-car traffic on the frequently congested A14/A13 corridor and help both countries meet EU climate targets.
For operators, HR managers and even frequent travellers who need to keep cross-border paperwork in order, VisaHQ’s Austria platform (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) can streamline the process of checking visa rules, securing Swiss or Schengen permits and tracking regulatory updates. The service’s alert tools are especially handy now that the cabotage framework is evolving, and they can just as easily cover other mobility topics—from work permits to tourist visas—across multiple jurisdictions.
Because cabotage between an EU member state and a third country (Switzerland is outside the EU and Schengen customs territory) falls under exclusive Union competence, Vienna needed formal authorisation before amending its treaty. The Council’s decision sets a precedent for other member states seeking similar arrangements with non-EU neighbours, but also places safeguards: cabotage will be geographically restricted and subject to periodic review to prevent market distortion.
Coach companies on both sides of the border have welcomed the development, noting that they can now integrate Austrian stops such as Feldkirch Bahnhof or Bludenz Postplatz into longer Zurich–Innsbruck or St. Gallen–Bregenz routes without the administrative burden of separate licences. Mobility managers overseeing assignee travel between Austrian and Swiss sites should update internal booking tools once the amendment enters into force—likely before the 2026-27 winter season.
The European Parliament must still adopt its position, but observers expect a swift trilogue given the narrow scope of the derogation. If the timeline holds, HR teams can anticipate smoother ground-transport links for cross-border commuters by Q4 2026, complementing existing rail connectivity on the Vorarlberg line.
