Skyguide, Switzerland's air navigation service provider, managed and monitored 203 346 flights under instrument flight rules (IFR) in the first half of 2021. This represents a year-on-year decline of 24.9%, and a decline of 67.8% with respect to the first half of 2019. Air traffic in the airspace above Switzerland and in the delegated areas managed by Skyguide came to a virtual standstill at times after the coronavirus crisis that reached Europe in March 2020 severely restricted air traffic. 99.7% of all flights handled by Skyguide were punctual. Skyguide also achieved this high level of punctuality in the period before Corona. The pandemic had no impact on the Swiss Air Force's training flights and missions nor Skyguide's military air navigation services.

All in all, throughout the first 6 months, when comparing to the 2019 traffic levels, the decline is still in the range of -70% (for the first 4 months) to -60% (in June).

First half-year flight movements by market segment (Skyguide charging zone)In the first half of 2021, the number of overflights handled fell by 21.2% compared to the same period of the previous year – since the first three months in 2020 were not yet affected by the pandemic – and which is a decrease of 68.7% compared to the number of overflights of the first half of 2019). The number of take-offs and landings throughout Switzerland also fell (-29.3% vs 2020, and -66.3% vs 2019). Zürich Airport recorded a 35.1% drop in movements (-71.9% vs 2019) and Geneva Airport a 38% decline (-69.5% vs 2019). The traffic handled at Switzerland’s regional airports showed an increase (+20.3% vs 2020, but -18.7% vs 2019) due to the fact that a large part of the traffic at these airports was unscheduled. Skyguide’s area control centres in Geneva and Dübendorf registered a decline in aircraft movements of 23.5% and 24.6% respectively (-67.4% and -67.5% vs 2019). The busiest day for Skyguide in the first half of 2021 was Friday 25 June, when 2 337 flights were handled.

Movements in the first half of 2021 by area control centre and airport:High punctuality during the Corona crisis

99.7% of all flights in the first half of the year were handled by air traffic control without delay. Punctuality was also at a similarly high level before the Corona crisis.


Uninterrupted flight operations by the Swiss Air Force during the crisis

The pandemic also had no impact on Swiss Air Force flights or Skyguide’s military air navigation services in the first half of 2021. The air force conducted regular training flights and missions during the Corona crisis.