Crans-Montana ski area to reopen on Friday

People enjoying the sun and snow in Crans Montana on Friday Keystone

Ski lift services to the popular destination in southwestern Switzerland are reopening on Friday, after being shut down earlier this week due to a financial dispute between the operating company and the local community.

The parties came to an agreement on Thursday evening, said Valais government member Christophe Darbellay, who had chaired the meeting. The pistes will reopen on Friday. This was confirmed by the Valais ski lift company Crans-Montana Aminona (CMA).External link

In September last year CMA had asked the three local municipalities of Crans-Montana, Icogne and Lens to contribute CHF800,000 ($833,960) annually to help cover its costs. 

While the latter two approved the request, an agreement could not be concluded with Crans-Montana. The company subsequently shut down the ski lift service for an “indeterminate period” starting Tuesday afternoon, as CMA president Philippe Magistretti said in an open letter.External link The three communes expressed regret over the decision.

+ Read more about the dispute here

The agreement sees CMA accepting certain terms, including over the timetable and opening dates. The three communes will pay the contribution of CHF800,000 a year for three years, they confirmed in a statemenExternal linkt.

The ski areas will be open until the end of the season, April 15. More ski slopes will be open than usual due to the exceptional snowfall, CMA said.