Skyguide soars to profitability with record flight numbers and higher fees

Skyguide, Switzerland's air navigation service provider, turned a major financial corner in 2025. The company reported a consolidated profit of 55.2 million Swiss francs, a sharp recovery from the previous year's 18.9 million franc loss. This improvement came alongside record flight numbers and stricter operational efficiency.

The financial rebound was largely driven by increased air traffic control fees. At the start of 2025, Skyguide raised overflight charges by 38% and landing fees by 24%, pending approval from the European Commission. These adjustments helped offset past losses and fund ongoing investments.

Operational performance also reached new heights. The company managed 1.346 million instrument flight rule (IFR) operations, a 1.3% rise from 2024. Takeoffs and landings climbed by 1.7%, totalling around 487,500 movements. Despite this growth, only 60% of flights stuck to their original schedules due to last-minute airline changes.

Skyguide maintained impressive punctuality under pressure. While 96.3% of flights arrived within their scheduled timeframes, the average air traffic control-related delay per flight was just 37 seconds. This figure far exceeded the European average of over two minutes per flight. The company also invested 70 million francs in operations and technology while repaying 41 million francs of its COVID-19 relief loan. To date, 86 million francs of the original 250 million franc loan have been cleared.

The results mark a strong recovery for Skyguide after years of financial strain. Higher fees, record flight volumes, and tight operational control have restored profitability. With most of its pandemic debt repaid and delays kept well below European standards, the company now looks ahead with greater stability.