The eight regional airports could be strongly affected by the savings planned by the Confederation. The chairman of the board of directors of the Eplatures Airport in La Chaux-de-Fonds (NE), Didier Berberat, sounds the alarm and believes that Skyguide must cost less. “The threats are quite serious. The sustainability of Eplatures airport is questioned, “said Didier Berberat, confirming information published Tuesday in Arcinfo.
With the federal savings program, the airport could lose 40% of its revenue. On the 1.4 million he currently touches from the Confederation, 657,000 francs are directly transferred to Skyguide, which notably provides services related to the weather. “The potential for savings at Skyguide, a large machine that is expensive, is important,” added Didier Berberat, ex-advisor to the Neuchâtel States.
The airports concerned are Birrfeld, Bressaucourt, Ecuvillens, La Chaux-de-Fonds-les Eplatures, Lausanne-La Blécherette, Lugano-Agno, Samedan, Sion and St. Gall-Altenrhein. Bern-Belp and Granges (Soleure) would be less affected by the cups, notes Arcinfo.
August 13, 2025: The Federal Council maintains its savings plan despite a reduced deficit of 600 million francs
The little ones relieve the big ones
“We forget that regional airports play an important role in relieving major airports and also in terms of regional policy to promote economic development. By attacking them financially, we strongly remove or reduces the supply of peripheral regions for the benefit of major centers, “said the chairman of the board of directors.
The eight regional airports will meet in early September to prepare an argument. They await the message of the Federal Council and will meet in the fall the finance committee of the Council of States.
A project is already frozen
In La Chaux-de-Fonds, pending federal decisions, the project to build new hangars at the Eplatures was frozen. If the federal savings measures are maintained, “it is difficult to envisage that the three public shareholders [Ville de La Chaux-de-Fonds, Ville du Locle et canton de Neuchâtel] replace the Confederation, ”added Didier Berberat. A search for private sector funds is underway.
The abolition of professional air traffic control could be envisaged. The risk is that some customers could give up using the eplatures for business or vacation flights. “Financial loss would be important,” said the chairman of the board of directors.
Currently, four professional air controllers are employed by the airport. They devote 65% of their time to this task. For the rest, they officiate as firefighters, clean or clear the track.
