UPDATE: Switzerland has joined the European Union in blocking Russian airlines its airspace and will block all fights from Russia:
In addition – in line with airspace closures in other European countries – Swiss airspace will be closed to all flights from Russia and to all movements of aircraft with Russian markings from 3pm on Monday with the exception of flights for humanitarian, medical or diplomatic purposes.
With airspace closed on flights from Russia, this marks the end of SWISS service to Moscow, even before Russia has a chance to retaliate for Switzerland’s move.
The original story appears below.
Less than an hour after telling passengers its Moscow flights would continue as scheduled, SWISS has cancelled today’s service from Zürich to Moscow, blaming the “unclear development of the regulatory situation.” Will Switzerland’s official policy of neutrality keep one air corridor open between the West and Moscow?
Switzerland’s Neutrality Tested In Russia – Ukraine Conflict, As SWISS Cancels Moscow Flight
Switzerland is under tremendous pressure to follow European Union nations in levying strict sanctions against Russia and a handful of powerful oligarchs after Russia invaded Ukraine on false pretexts. While Switzerland has indicated that it will not allow its country to be used to evade EU sanctions, it is wrestling with its traditional role of neutrality in the context of Russia. Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin noted:
“If Switzerland were to automatically adopt the sanctions imposed by the EU or other countries, it could no longer credibly play the traditional role for which it is valued worldwide.”
Instead, Switzerland will not allow new business relationships with the nearly 400 Russians now under EU sanction but will scrutinize rather than block existing business. Nearly 30% of all Russian overseas deposits are in Switzerland and the Alpine nation has deep links with many Russian corporations.
Valuing its role as a neutral arbiter, full travel bans and harsh measures enacted by its neighbors are less likely in Switzerland. While Russian airlines have been blocked from EU airspace and most European carriers have suspended service to Russia, SWISS flights between Moscow Domodedovo (DME) and Zürich (ZRH) will continue…or maybe not.
Earlier this morning, SWISS noted on Twitter flights would continue:
Hi Marc, sorry for the late response. SWISS is currently continuing to operate its flights to Russia as normal and is also continuing to use Russian airspace. Due to the current situation in Ukraine, SWISS is suspending its flights to Kyiv (KBP) (1/3)
— Swiss Intl Air Lines (@FlySWISS) February 28, 2022
But just one hour later it announced it was cancelling today’s Moscow service and not currently using Russian airspace:
Hi @ozz_eu. SWISS will not operate today’s flight from Zurich to Moscow (LX 1326) due to the still unclear development of the regulatory situation. The affected passengers will be informed. Furthermore, SWISS is currently not using Russian airspace for overflights. (1/2)
— Swiss Intl Air Lines (@FlySWISS) February 28, 2022
We continue to closely monitor the development of the situation and are in close exchange with the Swiss and international authorities as well as with the Lufthansa Group for our operational decisions. Kind regards, Alice. (2/2)
— Swiss Intl Air Lines (@FlySWISS) February 28, 2022
The SWISS policy on Russia is about as clear as Switzerland’s…
CONCLUSION
SWISS indicated it will continue service to Moscow in line with Switzerland’s “neutral” position in the conflict, but in the last few hours has canceled today’s flight and suggested that policy may be changing.
If SWISS suspends its Moscow route, it will close one of Russia’s last air links with Europe.
image: Africaspotter
Choosing between the west and Russia? Russian economy is smaller than many states in the US. If the west wanted the Swiss too choose sides they could easily do it.
The west won’t do though because politicians in the west themselves, or their industrial crony oligarch friends need the swiss too, to launder their own money.
Switzerland has just closed its airspace for all flights on Russian aircraft, or those going to / departing Russia. So that answers your question, Matthew.
See here (link to press statement of CH’s Bundesrat): https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start/documentation/media-releases.msg-id-87386.html
Thank you for the timely update, Max!
Anytime!
Unfortunately, this now leaves many swiss residents stranded in Russia. Swiss’s response when I checked on the canceled flight? We can refund you that flight segment. I asked for an alternative flight with a star alliance partner and the connection was dropped after a further 15 minutes of waiting.
While Swiss may think they are contributing to sanctions, canceling a flight (and its return flight from Moscow to get people out) does not really affect the people that need to be targeted.
I’m more than certain that there will be humanitarian flights or, at the least, you can travel by rail to St. Petersburg and travel the short way by car to the border at Finland or Estonia where you can easily cross to fly out from. Not as if people are completely stranded.
Years of bad press in how they became safe harbor for the Nazi looting of Jewish art collections and antiques has not been a good look for their “neutrality.” I’m glad this time they will at least give the appearances of denying a tyrant and murderer the opportunity for any respect.
What really needs to happen is for airspace to be closed to all flights that traverse Russian airspace regardless of the flag on the airplane. It makes no sense that Air India and China Southern can overfly Russia on the way to Europe but EU airlines can’t.
We’ll see; seems like every day or two we get a new round of sanctions. For example thought they wouldn’t sanction Russia from SWIFT but a few days later they did.
But that would be essentially be punishing India/China? Tough call.
It would really be a protectionist measure for their own airlines, which in this instance I think is totally reasonable.