The consultation phase leading up to the potential mass layoff at the Swiss air navigation service provider has concluded. Skyguide is now carefully evaluating the proposals it has received. The goal remains to minimise the impact on employees as much as possible and to ensure Skyguide’s long-term viability.
The Swiss air navigation service provider Skyguide has concluded the consultation process as part of its ongoing efficiency programme. Over a 30-day period, employees, employee representatives, and unions were able to submit proposals on how to mitigate the consequences of the announced mass layoff for the workforce. During this period, Skyguide actively promoted dialogue, answered questions, and created various opportunities for exchange. These included discussions with the unions, employee representatives, and employees with management contracts who are not members of a union.
Skyguide received numerous submissions. Some proposals aim to preserve jobs and avoid layoffs, others highlight how Skyguide could reduce costs and thereby limit the number of potential layoffs. In addition, employees submitted numerous ideas on how Skyguide can operate more simply and efficiently in its day-to-day operations. While the latter do not fall within the scope of the consultation, they demonstrate the strong commitment of many employees to the company’s future.
Skyguide is reviewing mitigation measures
“Many employees have actively participated and made concrete suggestions. This commitment deserves respect. We are now reviewing the submissions in depth and will take them into account in our future decisions,” says Peter Merz, CEO of Skyguide. This process will take several weeks. Afterwards, Skyguide will decide which measures to implement. As soon as the results are available, the company will provide transparent information on the next steps.
Skyguide is also examining mitigation measures such as early retirement, natural attrition, voluntary reductions in working hours, and other socially responsible solutions. Ultimately, such measures can help avoid layoffs or reduce their scope. However, they do not replace the necessary restructuring: Skyguide must simplify its structures, clarify responsibilities, and deploy resources strategically where they most effectively strengthen its legal mandate, safe operations, and long-term stability.
“We are aware that the planned measures are a burden for many employees,” says Merz. Skyguide takes this seriously. “We will minimise the impact on our employees as much as possible and implement the restructuring responsibly,Short-term financial adjustments alone are not enough”
On May 19, 2026, Skyguide announced that it was considering a potential mass layoff as part of its efficiency programme. The company needs to streamline its structures, clarify responsibilities, and reduce costs on a permanent basis.
“Action is needed. However, short-term financial adjustments alone are not enough to position Skyguide for long-term success,” says Merz. With this programme, management aims to ensure that Skyguide remains capable of acting effectively in the future. “We want to reduce complexity and structure the organisation so that it can respond flexibly to change.”
Skyguide operates critical infrastructure of national importance and bears a special responsibility toward Switzerland, its customers, and the public. Safety therefore remains the top priority. Skyguide implements only measures that comply with regulatory requirements and uphold the high safety standards of Swiss air traffic control.
Even during the ongoing restructuring, Skyguide continues to fulfill its legal mandate without change. The company continues to ensure safe, orderly, and efficient air traffic and reliably provides its services to partners, customers, and their passengers.
