A man from Skytanking fills the tank of a Swiss International Air Lines aircraft with kerosene fuel.Image: keystone
April 27, 2026, 6:18 p.mApril 27, 2026, 6:23 p.m
Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed due to the Iran war, fossil fuels have become scarcer and therefore more expensive throughout Europe. So far, people in Switzerland have had to worry less about diesel and gasoline than in Germany, for example. But what is also slowly becoming scarce in this country is aviation petrol, also known as kerosene.
Until the end of May
The Federal Office for State Economic Supply (BWL) estimates this Supply situation with aircraft fuel is guaranteed until the end of May 2026.
Switzerland should actually store 90 days of the average kerosene sales of the last three years at Swiss airports (excluding Basel). A spokesman for the BWL confirmed this to the SDA news agency.
However, the reserves are currently only around 72 days. The reason for this is a strong increase in aviation petroleum sales since the Covid pandemic. Since then, aviation fuel often reaches the so-called with a time delay Mandatory camp.
Not tied to energy solidarity
The principle of energy solidarity applies within the EU: If kerosene becomes scarce in one member state, other countries are obliged to help.
However, this rule does not apply to Switzerland. “Switzerland is not a member of the European Union and is therefore not bound to energy solidarity,” says Nicole Mathys SRF. She is head of the energy office at the BWL. The local reserves are primarily intended for personal use.
An exception is the gas supply. There is a corresponding agreement between Switzerland, Germany and Italy. According to Mathys, if gas becomes scarce in one of these countries, support can be requested. “The focus is then on supplying gas to protected customers – these are, for example, households, hospitals or emergency services.” These groups would be given priority in a shortage situation.
Such prioritization does not exist for fuels such as kerosene, gasoline or diesel. Nevertheless, Switzerland would be indirectly affected by a shortage. In the event of shortages, the mandatory stocks would be released via the usual market channels. This means that foreign traders could also have access. “Theoretically, someone can buy it and sell it again on the other side of the border,” explains Mathys. So the market remains open.
Federal Council can intervene
However, the Federal Council could intervene and establish exceptions. “If, for example, kerosene were to become very, very scarce, then the Federal Council could order that rescue, fire-fighting and search flights would receive the necessary aviation fuel deliveries,” says Mathys. However, such a situation is currently not foreseeable.
Regardless, the army has its own fuel reserves. According to BWL, these stocks are not part of the mandatory stocks that the federal government organizes together with the petroleum industry. (val)