Switzerland Authorizes Jet-Fuel Reserve Withdrawals for Zurich Airport

BERN — Switzerland has authorized withdrawals from compulsory jet-fuel reserves to avert a supply shortfall at Zurich Airport (ZRH), where international rail freight cancellations and delays have disrupted deliveries.

The authorization permits withdrawals of up to 30,000m³ from October 15 through November 1, 2026. That is about 7.9 million US gal (30 million liters), representing 6.5% of the compulsory jet-fuel stocks available at the time of the announcement.

Roland Pfister, Switzerland’s delegate for national economic supply, approved the temporary measure, according to the October 15 government notice.

Rail Delays Strain Fuel Deliveries

The notice identifies disruption on rail routes from Germany as a particular problem. Low water on the Rhine has pushed additional shipments of other goods onto an already congested railway network, leaving missed fuel deliveries unable to be made up in time.

Authorities said the stocks available at Zurich Airport would be insufficient to bridge the missing deliveries without additional measures. The reserve authorization is intended to cover that gap.

How the Compulsory Reserves Work

Switzerland’s reserves are owned by companies required to hold them. The federal government determines which essential goods must be stocked and in what quantities, according to its compulsory-stockholding factsheet.

The factsheet says the national economic supply delegate can independently authorize temporary withdrawals of up to 20% of a product’s compulsory stocks.

The government’s mineral-oil supply guidance explains that released stocks enter the market through normal distribution channels and are sold at prevailing market prices. The mechanism supports supply without setting a discounted fuel price.

The October 15 notice does not report how much aviation fuel has actually been withdrawn or identify fuel-related flight cancellations.