'No to 10 Million' referendum gains momentum as new poll shows 52 % support
Zurich Airport flight movements surpass pre-pandemic levels for first time in 2026
Brussels grants Schengen states—including Switzerland—flexibility to suspend biometric border checks
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EU Visa Working Party meets with Switzerland in mixed committee format
On 4 May the EU’s Visa Working Party—attended by Switzerland as a Schengen associate—discussed a new risk-based framework for monitoring visa-free countries and a draft list of ‘verified companies’ that would enjoy fast-track Schengen business visas. Swiss officials pressed for equal access to the scheme, which could reshape how multinationals obtain short-stay visas.
Federal roads office warns of Ascension and Pentecost gridlock, urges travellers to stay on motorways
ASTRA projects severe motorway congestion during the mid-May and early-June holiday weekends and urges drivers—locals and business travellers alike—to stay on main highways instead of rat-running through villages. Mobility planners should expect longer transfer times to and from southern Switzerland and northern Italy.
SBB adds 58 extra Gotthard services for Ascension and Pentecost rush
SBB will run 58 extra trains and 130,000 more seats through the Gotthard Base Tunnel for the Ascension and Pentecost long weekends, helping to divert travellers from the notoriously congested A2 motorway. Businesses should book seats early and note that bicycle reservations remain compulsory.
Switzerland freezes 2026 work-permit quotas for non-EU talent
Bern has decided to keep the 2026 quota for B- and L-work permits unchanged at 8,500 for non-EU/EFTA nationals. The move gives businesses clarity but preserves a tight bottleneck for third-country talent at a time of skills shortages and an upcoming anti-immigration referendum. Global mobility managers will need to prioritise key hires early and prepare fallback plans once quotas run out.
Schengen states—including Switzerland—may skip biometric checks during peak hours
From 2 May Schengen countries, including Switzerland, may pause mandatory fingerprint and face-capture at external borders during surges, reverting to manual passport stamping. The move aims to ease hour-long queues triggered by April’s rollout of the Entry/Exit System. Swiss airports gain short-term flexibility, but companies should keep longer connection times until new biometric kiosks are in place.
Swiss passengers face longer Tel Aviv blackout as Lufthansa Group stretches suspension to 30 June
Regional airlines have resumed limited Tel Aviv service, but SWISS and its Lufthansa Group partners have extended their suspension until at least 30 June. Swiss corporates must reroute travellers via alternative carriers or defer trips, and should budget for higher fares and possible insurance gaps until a mid-May security assessment clarifies the outlook.
India’s foreign minister transits Zürich, highlighting Switzerland’s role as diplomatic crossroads
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar refuelled in Zürich on 2 May while heading to the Caribbean, briefly closing an airside stand and underscoring the airport’s importance as a diplomatic transit point. Mobility teams should factor unpublicised VVIP stops into connection planning, as such visits can cause temporary ground-handling delays.