NATO manoeuvres could affect Swiss air traffic in June

Operation Air Defender 23, NATO’s largest air force exercise since its inception, could mean restrictions on flights to and from Zurich airport.

The exercise is due to take place in Germany from June the 12th to the 23rd and will involve more than 220 air force aircraft and 10,000 military personnel from 24 countries.

One of the main training areas will be in Bavaria, approximately 120 kilometres from the Swiss border. The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation says that the manoeuvres may result in weekday disruptions to scheduled air traffic, particularly to and from Zurich. 

No exercises will take place at the weekends.

The Federal Office of Civil Aviation says that longer flight times, delays and even cancellations cannot be ruled out across Europe, especially in the event of bad weather. 

During the operation, passengers will be advised to check changes to flight times. Private air traffic could also be disrupted for the duration of the exercise.

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play