Proposed Legislation To Increase Sanctions For Airlines

The Federal Council has passed draft legislation which increases the sanctions for airlines which allow foreign passengers to fly without sufficient travel documents (eg, passport, visa or permit to stay) to enter the Swiss territory. The proposed legislation is intended to reduce the number of people who arrive in Switzerland with insufficient identification. In 2011 a violation of the regulations was reported in almost 1,000 cases. Under the existing legislation, however, sanctions are difficult to impose. This is because in most cases it is practically impossible (with reasonable effort and measures) to prove that an airline has violated the standard of care, in particular at the airport of departure.