Schilthorn Publishes Annual Report 2025 - A Record Year Despite Operational Interruption
Despite the construction-related closure of the Schilthorn summit until mid-March 2025, Schilthornbahn AG looks back on a record year. The phased commissioning of the new cable car systems led to a significantly higher transport capacity and a marked increase in passenger numbers. All business areas benefited from this growth. 2026 is now entirely dedicated to the project's completion.
The Schilthornbahn AG's 2025 annual report is very positive: all business units closed with a profit. This is all the more remarkable because the uppermost section between Birg and Schilthorn, as well as the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant and the Top Shop, were closed for construction until mid-March 2025. Despite the service interruption and ongoing construction activity, passenger numbers on the main line between Stechelberg and the Schilthorn exceeded the record highs of 2018 and 2019. Passenger numbers increased by 17.3 percent compared to the previous year and were even 38.4 percent above the five-year average.
New cable cars, more capacity
In December 2024, the world's steepest cable car between Stechelberg and Mürren, as well as Switzerland's first Funifor cable car between Birg and Mürren, were opened. The Funifor cable car between Birg and Schilthorn followed in mid-March 2025. Since the end of November, the second track of the Mürren-Birg aerial tramway has also been in operation, guaranteeing full transport capacity of 800 people per hour to the ski area. This increase in capacity had an extremely positive impact on the overall results.
Allmendhubel also benefits from the growth
The Mürren-Allmendhubel funicular railway also benefited from the increase in visitors to Mürren. Visitor numbers are once again 8.1 percent higher than the record high of 2024 – and even 22.3 percent higher in the summer months. This increase was also reflected in the Panorama Restaurant Allmendhubel, whose record revenue from 2024 was further increased by 11 percent.
A positive development for the catering, hotel and retail sectors.
Although the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant was closed at the beginning of the year and therefore inaccessible by cable car, revenue increased by over 12 percent. Bistro Birg saw a two percent increase, and the Alpenruh and Blumental hotels each posted gains of around 4.5 percent. Restaurants Gimmeln and Schiltgrathüsi benefited from the excellent snow conditions last winter, boosting revenue by 15 percent. The start of the current winter season, however, was more subdued, as the Gimmeln ski lift has not yet been operational. The Top Shop has expanded its retail space since the summit reopened in March. Thanks to a strong summer season, revenue has increased by almost 11 percent. Souvenir sales, in particular, have returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Successful start to the 2025/2026 winter season
Since the start of the winter season, 18 percent more first-time visitors have been recorded than in the previous year. Reasons for this include the early start to the season at the end of September 2025 with the Pända Snowpark Sessions, the early onset of winter in November, and generally good snow conditions. Over the holidays, all lifts and slopes were open – with the exception of the Gimmeln ski lift.
What will the year 2026 bring?
This year is all about the completion of the SCHILTHORNBAHN 20XX cable car project: Approximately three years after the demolition of the Käthi transport cable car, which marked the symbolic start of construction, the final new Funifor track between Birg and Schilthorn will be officially opened on Maundy Thursday, April 2, 2026. All new cable car systems and their associated stations will then be completed. The next phase involves additional development projects: A new sports shop with ski rental and a bistro is being built at the Mürren station. It is scheduled to open next summer. The facilities will be further enhanced at the start of the 2026/2027 winter season with a ski depot featuring 300 lockers, each accommodating up to two pairs of skis.
The Annual General Meeting of Schilthornbahn AG will take place on Friday, June 19, 2026, in Mürren. According to the Federal Tax Administration, the taxable value of the Schilthornbahn share for the 2025 tax year is CHF 1,310 (previous year: CHF 1,250).
