Switzerland has temporarily authorized withdrawals from compulsory jet-fuel reserves to avert an impending supply shortfall at Zurich Airport. Up to 30,000 cubic metres of aviation fuel may be released between 15 October and 1 November, equivalent to 6.5% of the country’s currently available reserves. The measure is intended to maintain supplies for airlines including Swiss, with no refuelling restrictions or flight disruptions reported at the time of the decision.
Roland Pfister, Switzerland’s delegate for national economic supply, approved the withdrawals after cancellations and major delays in international rail freight disrupted deliveries, particularly on feeder routes from Germany. Low water levels on the Rhine had diverted additional freight to rail services that were already congested, preventing missed fuel deliveries from being replaced quickly enough.
The authorised volume represents approximately 30 million litres. Switzerland’s compulsory-stockpile system requires companies to hold government-mandated reserves, which can be released temporarily when supply becomes critical. Zurich Airport’s available stocks would not have been sufficient to bridge the delivery gap without additional action, but the airport reported that aircraft refuelling remained unrestricted. Swiss also indicated that its flights could operate as planned, with selected services carrying enough fuel from Zurich and Geneva to Frankfurt to cover their return sectors without refuelling in Germany.