The Swiss air traffic control authority Skyguide reduced the number of approaches to Geneva Airport by 20 percent as a precautionary measure on Monday. This measure serves to ensure the safety of flight operations and is a response to a latent technical problem, Skyguide announced. Passengers should therefore be prepared for possible delays. The reduced capacity will remain in place until a permanent solution to the technical problem can be found and implemented.
A Skyguide spokeswoman explained that the hourly arrival rate would be reduced by 20 percent. However, the decision as to whether flights would be canceled as a result would be up to the respective airlines. It was initially unclear how long the restrictions would remain in place. "We are working diligently on this," the spokeswoman assured.
Repeated system failures in air traffic control
The precautionary measure is due to several malfunctions in a system that provides radar images to air traffic controllers. Skyguide reported that seven such incidents had already occurred in recent months. Although air traffic safety was never at risk, individual air traffic control employees lost radar images for a few seconds.
According to Skyguide, the problem occurred primarily at the Geneva site. The company announced that it will implement a software update for the affected systems in the coming days, initially in Geneva and subsequently in Zurich. This update is intended to improve system stability and prevent further outages.
Impact on flight operations expected
The 20 percent reduction in approach capacity at Geneva means fewer aircraft can land per hour. This is expected to lead to delays in flight schedules. Airlines flying to Geneva Airport may have to adjust their flight times or, in the worst case, cancel flights. Passengers flying to or from Geneva in the coming days should therefore closely monitor their flight status and be prepared for possible delays.
Skyguide, the air traffic control provider, emphasized that passenger safety is its top priority and that the reduction in approaches is purely a precautionary measure to ensure safe flight operations until the technical problem is fully resolved. The rapid response and the announced system updates indicate that Skyguide is committed to minimizing disruptions and restoring normal operations as soon as possible. However, it remains to be seen how extensive the actual impact on air traffic will be in the coming days.
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