Jungfrau Lift Co' Achieves Record Profit In The First Half Of The Year

Jungfraubahn Holding AG announces in an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Article 53 of the Listing Rules that the Jungfrau Railway Group achieved the highest half-year profit in its history in the first half of 2025, at CHF 37 million. This profit, which is 7.3 percent higher than the same period last year, was based on the increase in traffic revenue, which exceeded the CHF 100 million mark for the first time.

In the first half of 2025, the Jungfrau Railway Group achieved traffic revenue of CHF 107.2 million. This was 8.2 percent higher than in the same period last year. In mid-June, the Jungfrau Railway Group completed a change of leadership at the company's helm. Oliver Hammel succeeded Urs Kessler as the new CEO. "I was able to take over the management of a rock-solid company with promising prospects, with an independently functioning team that acts quickly and always stays on the ball," explains Oliver Hammel after approximately 100 days in office.

The company generated operating income of CHF 149.9 million and EBITDA of CHF 65.9 million. In the first half of 2025, the Jungfrau Railway Group achieved a record half-year profit of CHF 37.0 million, 7.3 percent higher than in 2024. Due to the strong business performance, costs also increased. Operating income rose by 5.7 percent compared to the same period last year, and operating expenses by 5.3 percent.

In all three segments – Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, Adventure Mountains, and Winter Sports – revenue and average revenue increased disproportionately. All three segments also saw further increases in guest numbers.

Increasing average yield at the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe

In the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe segment, average revenue per guest increased to CHF 187. Traffic revenue also increased by 4.9 percent year-on-year to CHF 59.7 million, corresponding to CHF 126 per guest. Guest numbers also developed positively in the first six months of the current year.

With 472,700 people, 2.6 percent more guests visited the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe than in the first half of 2024. "This was achieved thanks to the Jungfrau Railway Group's long-term strategy of optimizing visitor utilization during the months with fewer visitors," says CEO Oliver Hammel. More guests came primarily from the USA, India, and South Korea, with China also continuing its upward trend.

Adventure Mountains flourish – very good winter season

. At Adventure Mountains, traffic revenue increased above average to CHF 20.8 million. This corresponds to an increase of 17.6 percent compared to the same period in 2024. This increase was due to the fare increase for tickets for the Firstbahn cable car and higher sales of the Jungfrau Travel Pass. The latter, in particular, leads to guests staying in the region longer. This is also reflected in guest numbers. These were 14.8 percent and 12.9 percent higher for the Firstbahn and Lauterbrunnen-Mürren cable cars, respectively, compared to the same period last year. The Harderbahn cable car recorded a 5 percent decrease in the first half of the year, although frequencies remained at a high level.

In the winter sports segment, the 2024/2025 winter season was the second-best of the last ten years, with 1.183 million skier visits (first-time visitors). Only the 2021/2022 winter season was even stronger. Both the Grindelwald-First and Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen areas saw more winter sports guests. The Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen area has recorded significantly more skier visits since the completion of the V-Cableway project and the Eiger Express. Comparing the winter months of January to April, the increase compared to the same period last year is 3.7 percent, and the five-year average is 5.1 percent. Traffic revenue (January 1, 2025, to April 30, 2025) rose by 9.2 percent to CHF 26.7 million.

sustainability

The Jungfrau Railway Group supports various regional sustainability projects as part of its sustainability strategy. The Grindelwald Forestry Department planted around 1,000 "climate trees" at various locations in the municipality of Grindelwald in the first half of the year. And at Hardermatte above Unterseen, biodiversity and species diversity are being promoted through specific forest and embankment management. An intact natural environment is of central importance to the Jungfrau Region as a foundation for tourism and the economy.

One focus of sustainability efforts is the Hintisberg alpine solar power plant project. Fortunately, there were no objections from nature and landscape conservation associations during the building permit process. In the second half of 2025, in addition to the completion of the permit process, securing funding for alpine solar power plants and conducting a feasibility study are scheduled. Therefore, construction will not begin until 2026 at the earliest.

For the first time, sustainability targets were defined for 2025, the achievement of which will influence the variable compensation of the Executive Board. The expanded sustainability reporting has already led to improved ratings for Jungfraubahn Holding AG.

outlook

The trend continued in the two following months of the first half of 2025, July and August, even though July was partly very rainy. According to Oliver Hammel, "the Jungfrau Railway Group's international orientation and extensive market diversification proved their worth, making the company less dependent on the weather."

Even though tourism has decoupled from other consumer sectors since the pandemic and the high exchange rate has had little impact on long-distance travel, the company's future business performance will be shaped by global uncertainties beyond its control: the war in Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, and the fragile global economic, price, and currency developments.

The Swiss Economic Institute (KOF) has slightly raised its forecast for the remainder of the summer season due to strong demand from long-distance markets. KOF anticipates growth of 0.5 percent in overnight stays for the coming winter season. The Jungfrau Ski Region, along with Adelboden-Lenk, the Aletsch Arena, and Engelberg-Titlis, will launch the AlpsPass.

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