Delays and cancellations possible: NATO exercise affects air traffic from Zurich

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The large-scale NATO air force exercise “Air Defender 2023” in June is causing disruptions to air traffic across Europe. In certain cases, aircraft may therefore temporarily take off and land at Zurich Airport no later than 00:30 instead of 23:30.

The effects on civil air traffic are currently difficult to assess, the Federal Civil Aviation Administration (Bazl) told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Friday. However, longer flight times, delays or even cancellations of flights across Europe cannot be completely ruled out.

Zurich Airport has therefore applied for a temporary change in its operating regulations to allow for later departure and landing times. Bazl endorsed this app. Accordingly, Geneva Airport did not make a relevant application.

NATO training flights take place throughout the week

According to the news of Bazl, a restricted area will be established in the south of Germany for the flight activities of the exercise, which will be held between 12-23 June, which will limit the capacities in the South German airspace for all air traffic.

NATO training flights operate on weekdays, so no restrictions are expected over the weekend. The German Federal Armed Forces is responsible for the precise planning of flight times. Swiss authorities, namely Skyguide, Air Force and Bazl are in exchange with German authorities. No airspace will be closed in Switzerland.

Passengers have to plan more time

“Both airlines and air traffic control in Europe are trying to minimize the impact,” said Prisca Huguenin-dit-Lenoir, spokesperson for the Swiss air traffic control organization Skyguide. Still, delays or even cancellations of flights across Europe “especially in bad weather” cannot be ruled out. He advises passengers to learn about the changes in flight times in time during this period.

To keep the impact on passengers as low as possible, Swiss set up its own working group. “As soon as the effects on flight operations become clearer, Swiss will provide transparent information on this,” said Swiss upon request. Said.

Switzerland disagrees

“Air Defender 23” is the air force’s largest displacement exercise since the North Atlantic defense alliance NATO was formed in 1949. The aim, as announced by the German Bundeswehr, is to conduct air operations with the allied air forces. 25 countries are participating with 250 aircraft and 10,000 soldiers.

In addition to Germany, neighboring countries Switzerland, France and Italy are also participating in the exercise. As an army spokesperson said at the request, Switzerland disagrees. (SDA/jcm)

Source :Blick