SWISS to recruit experienced first officers

In addition to training new ab initio pilots, SWISS will be recruiting trained first officers with or without a current type rating for the next few years. Having been unable to train any new pilots during the COVID-19 pandemic, SWISS is ensuring through these actions that it will continue to maintain adequate numbers of cockpit personnel.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) was unable to train any new pilots during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure that it will continue to have enough cockpit personnel in the years ahead, in addition to offering ab initio pilot training, Switzerland’s biggest airline will also be recruiting already-trained first officers to its cockpit crew corps from this autumn onwards.

“We are looking forward to welcoming experienced first officers, too, to our pilot ranks,” says Stefan-Kenan Scheib, SWISS’s Head of Flight Operations. “With our ab initio pilot training taking about two years, we need to recruit such already-trained first officers as well to ensure that we can maintain stable flight operations in the medium term.”

New meals on SWISS flights..... a new taste of Switzerland

SWISS is taking its Business and First Class guests on a gourmet trip to Canton St. Gallen in the latest phase of its ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ inflight culinary programme

The new meals have been created by Bernadette Lisibach, starred chef at the reputed Neue Blumenau restaurant in the village of Lömmenschwil. SWISS’s Premium Economy Class passengers will also enjoy a three-course inflight meal that has been inspired by Canton St. Gallen specialities.

For the next three months Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be serving its First and Business Class guests culinary delights that have been concocted in collaboration with the Neue Blumenau restaurant in Lömmenschwil, Canton St. Gallen. The gourmet locale not far from Lake Constance is home to Michelin-starred executive chef Bernadette Lisibach, who is renowned for her down-to-earth creations using local regional ingredients.

Bernadette Lisibach has been delighting the Neue Blumenau’s patrons with her traditional yet freshly-interpreted cuisine for the past eleven years. Her skills and creativity have already earned her the GaultMillau 2015 Chef of the Year award, her first Michelin star (in 2019) and 17 GaultMillau points. For SWISS Taste of Switzerland she has put an even firmer focus on specialities from Canton St. Gallen, to help further acquaint SWISS’s premium travellers on long-haul services from Zurich with Switzerland’s vast culinary variety.

“The gourmet creations of Bernadette Lisibach are a byword for a sound and simple approach, sheer enjoyment and quality of the highest order,” says Julia Hillenbrand, SWISS’s Head of Brand Experience. “It’s a combination that is an excellent fit with our company. And I’m delighted that our inflight guests can now sample her skills and gain a taste of the culinary offerings of Canton St. Gallen.”

SWISS serves up St. Gallen gourmet specialities from the Neue Blumenau

SWISS is taking its Business and First Class guests on a gourmet trip to Canton St. Gallen in the latest phase of its ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ inflight culinary programme, which begins today. 

The new meals have been created by Bernadette Lisibach, starred chef at the reputed Neue Blumenau restaurant in the village of Lömmenschwil. SWISS’s Premium Economy Class passengers will also enjoy a three-course inflight meal that has been inspired by Canton St. Gallen specialities.

For the next three months Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will be serving its First and Business Class guests culinary delights that have been concocted in collaboration with the Neue Blumenau restaurant in Lömmenschwil, Canton St. Gallen. The gourmet locale not far from Lake Constance is home to Michelin-starred executive chef Bernadette Lisibach, who is renowned for her down-to-earth creations using local regional ingredients.

Bernadette Lisibach has been delighting the Neue Blumenau’s patrons with her traditional yet freshly-interpreted cuisine for the past eleven years. Her skills and creativity have already earned her the GaultMillau 2015 Chef of the Year award, her first Michelin star (in 2019) and 17 GaultMillau points. For SWISS Taste of Switzerland she has put an even firmer focus on specialities from Canton St. Gallen, to help further acquaint SWISS’s premium travellers on long-haul services from Zurich with Switzerland’s vast culinary variety.

“The gourmet creations of Bernadette Lisibach are a byword for a sound and simple approach, sheer enjoyment and quality of the highest order,” says Julia Hillenbrand, SWISS’s Head of Brand Experience. “It’s a combination that is an excellent fit with our company. And I’m delighted that our inflight guests can now sample her skills and gain a taste of the culinary offerings of Canton St. Gallen.”

SWISS expands its ‘Green Fares’ Europewide

Following successful trials in Scandinavia, SWISS is expanding its ‘Green Fares’ programme throughout Europe together with the Lufthansa Group. With SWISS’s Green Fares, the offsetting of the carbon dioxide emissions generated by the customer’s air travel is included in the price. The new Green Fare option complements SWISS’s existing range of products in the sustainability field.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is expanding its ‘Green Fares’ to all its European markets with immediate effect, together with the further airlines of the Lufthansa Group. The new fares were introduced in SWISS’s Scandinavian markets on a trial basis in August 2022.

Any SWISS customer choosing a Green Fare for their flight will be automatically offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions generated by their individual air travel – 20% through the use of sustainable aviation fuel or SAF and the remaining 80% through a contribution to quality climate protection projects. The present generation of sustainable aviation fuels generates 80% less carbon dioxide emissions than traditional aviation kerosene. SAF also offers the future prospect of almost carbon-neutral flying.

“With our Green Fares, which we have already successfully trialled in Scandinavia, we are offering our customers a further attractive and simple option for making their air travel more sustainable and, by purchasing SAF, helping to transform the aviation sector,” says SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “Working together in this way, we can send strong signals to the market to continue to pursue SAF’s development and production. We will only be able to scale up SAF production to the extent required through a joint drive of this kind from customers, airlines and technology providers alike, and with the appropriate political support.”

SWISS to resume passenger services to Shanghai

SWISS to resume passenger services to Shanghai

Now that the entry restrictions into mainland China have been lifted a number of European carriers have or are in the process of restarting services. SWISS is the latest to announce a resumption of flights, with the confirmation its Zurich - Shanghai route is back on the schedule from early next month. 

One weekly flight is currently planned on the route for the month of March, which will then be expanded to three weekly frequencies from April onwards.

In view of the now-eased local entry provisions, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to resume passenger services to and from Mainland China. SWISS will initially offer one weekly non-stop flight between Zurich and Shanghai from 3 March. Service on the route should then be expanded to three weekly frequencies from April onwards. The flights will generally be operated using Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, or alternatively Airbus A340-300.

“We’re delighted that we’ll soon be providing our customers with flights between Zurich and Shanghai again,” says SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “It’s a high priority for us to meet the demand that is now growing again for travel between these two major business centres and beyond. Shanghai remains one of the key points in our network in terms of both inbound and outbound travellers.”

SWISS suspended its previous scheduled passenger services between Zurich and Shanghai in April 2022 in view of the travel restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, and its services on the route have since been limited to cargo-only flights.

In addition to resuming its Zurich-Shanghai passenger flights, SWISS will also be increasing its service to and from Hong Kong from five to six weekly frequencies in the 2023 summer schedules.

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SWISS transfers Swiss AviationSoftware to Lufthansa Technik

SWISS transferred its Swiss AviationSoftware subsidiary to Lufthansa Technik at the end of 2022. The action has been taken for strategic reasons: integrating Swiss AviationSoftware’s world-leading AMOS maintenance application into the Lufthansa Technik digital ecosystem will generate synergies throughout the Lufthansa Group and enable the further expansion and development of this still-autonomous Swiss company.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has transferred the ownership of its Swiss AviationSoftware (Swiss-AS) subsidiary to Lufthansa Technik for strategic reasons. The transfer was effected at the end of 2022. The integration of Swiss-AS into Lufthansa Technik creates a comprehensive software ecosystem which provides a unique digital backbone for the aircraft maintenance sector. Swiss-AS’s AMOS software solution complements the AVIATAR (data and analytics solutions) and Flydocs (digital records and asset solutions) platforms which are already under the same organizational roof. Swiss-AS will remain an autonomous company under the new structural arrangement. The company also remains committed for the longer term to its Swiss domicile, and plans to further enlarge its workforce.

SWISS to name 20 aircraft after Swiss tourist areas and resorts

SWISS is to conclude its 20th-anniversary celebrations by naming twenty of its Airbus A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft after Swiss tourist areas and resorts in collaboration with Switzerland Tourism. The destinations concerned have been selected via a competition. And the top three winners will each be honoured with a full naming ceremony in one of SWISS’s hangars.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to conclude its current 20th anniversary celebrations with a very special action: twenty of its advanced Airbus A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft are to be named after Swiss tourist areas and resorts, to help publicize far and wide the sheer variety of Switzerland’s tourist landscape. To this end, SWISS and Switzerland Tourism co-ran a competition last December inviting Swiss tourist destinations to submit their own imaginative presentations on why they should be selected. Over 50 entries were received, which were each assessed by a SWISS judging panel on their creativity, their originality, their authenticity and their connection to SWISS.

“We received so many outstanding and original entries, and it was far from easy to select our 20 winners,” says Anja Beeler, SWISS’s Head of Strategic Communications & Content Creation. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our participants for all their creative contributions. And we’re really looking forward to carrying the names of all the varied and unique winning Swiss tourist areas and resorts on our aircraft out into the world.”

The SWISS social media community also selected three favourites from among the 20 winners in a worldwide online poll: Bad Zurzach (AG), Nendaz (VS) and Viamala (GR). Each of these will enjoy its own physical aircraft naming ceremony within a SWISS hangar – two in Zurich and one in Geneva – in the course of 2023.

The winning destinations:

Canton Aargau: Bad Zurzach, Rheinfelden

Canton Bern: Haslital

Canton Fribourg: La Gruyère

Canton Glarus: Braunwald

Canton Grisons: Lenzerheide, Val Surses, Viamala

Canton Lucerne: Sempach, Willisau

Canton Schwyz: Brunnen, Morschach

Canton Solothurn: Solothurn

Canton St. Gallen: Rapperswil-Jona

Canton Ticino: Mendrisio, Verzasca

Canton Uri: Andermatt, Rütli

Canton Valais: Nendaz, Saas-Fee.

SWISS appoints Léa Wertheimer as its new Head of Corporate Communications

Léa Wertheimer has been named as SWISS’s new Head of Corporate Communications, with responsibility for setting and implementing the company’s communications strategy. She presently serves as Head of Media Relations for Swiss Post in Bern.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has appointed Léa Wertheimer as its new Head of Corporate Communications. Together with her team, she will be responsible for all of SWISS’s external and internal communications from April 2023 onwards, reporting directly to CEO Dieter Vranckx. Wertheimer succeeds Daniel Bärlocher, who left the company in October to take on a new professional challenge outside the aviation industry.

“With her long and varied experience within the communications sector, Léa Wertheimer is the ideal appointee to this demanding position,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “I am greatly looking forward to working with her, and I wish her every success and satisfaction in her new capacity.”

Léa Wertheimer can draw on a lengthy career within the communications sector. She has held her present position as Head of Media Relations at Swiss Post, with responsibility for all the organization’s media work and interactions, since the beginning of 2017. She also led Swiss Post’s Communications Crisis Task Force during the coronavirus pandemic. Prior to Swiss Post, she was a media spokesperson for the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration in Bern from 2013 to the end of 2016; and from 2006 to 2013 she served as an editor with the Neue Luzerner Zeitung and with the Zürcher Oberland Medien organization. She has previous experience in the aviation sector, too, having been an air transport officer at Swissport and a flight attendant with Swissair.

Léa Wertheimer is a Swiss national, and holds a phil. I secondary school teaching diploma in languages and history from the University of Zurich, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Crisis Communications from the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) and a crisis communications management diploma from the Deutsche Presseakademie Berlin.

SWISS to recruit new pilots from 2023

SWISS is to resume the recruitment and training of new pilots from 2023 onwards. The training will be provided by the European Flight Academy, which is operated by Lufthansa Aviation Training. SWISS student pilots can also take advantage of financial training support.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will resume the recruitment and training of new pilots next year, after such activities were suspended in view of the coronavirus pandemic. SWISS will also be newly employing 80 first officers who have already completed their training with Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland (LAT).

“We are really pleased that, after a two-year hiring freeze, we can now offer a new generation of SWISS pilots job prospects, career perspectives and an attractive workplace aloft, and can welcome more new colleagues to our cockpit crew corps,” says SWISS Head of Flight Operations Stefan-Kenan Scheib. “We’re looking to train new cockpit personnel now, to ensure that we continue to meet all our cockpit crewing needs for our SWISS flight operations.”

The two-year training of SWISS’s new pilots will be conducted by the LAT-operated European Flight Academy (EFA). The training will take place at various locations including Opfikon and Grenchen in Switzerland and Goodyear (Arizona) in the USA.

“Now is the ideal time for talented young individuals to seek a cockpit career,” says Manuel Meier, Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland AG. “As the Lufthansa Group’s Swiss-based training organization, we offer our applicants high-quality basic and further flight training with SWISS instructors and a state-of-the-art training aircraft fleet.”

SWISS student pilots offered financial support

Applicants should have completed at least three years of basic vocational training or have examination-free access to university-level education. SWISS student pilots can also benefit from assistance in financing the training costs involved. Candidates can apply now, and will find further information at www.swiss.com or at www.european-flight-academy.com.

SWISS promotes Swiss innovation and invests in Synhelion

SWISS has acquired a financial interest in Swiss-based technology company Synhelion in a further step to help bring solar fuels to market. Synhelion will be using the funds raised by this latest financing round to scale up and commercialize its technology. Alternative fuels such as the solar fuel being developed by Synhelion are essential to the achievement of the aviation sector’s ambitious climate goals.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has invested in the Swiss-based Synhelion company in the ETH spinoff’s latest financing round. The investment further underlines SWISS’s firm commitment to sustainability and to helping accelerate the process of bringing solar fuels to market. Switzerland’s biggest airline is putting a particular focus on such fuels in view of their strong scalability. Synhelion’s technology also offers sizeable development potential, and holds many strategic advantages over other technological approaches. To take one example, the Synhelion plant’s inbuilt heat storage facility enables the plant to be operated 24/7 with no need to draw on further renewable energy from the existing electricity grid.

“Synhelion, SWISS and the Lufthansa Group have been collaborating very constructively on bringing solar fuels to market for the aviation sector for more than two years now,” explains SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “And we are delighted that, with our new financial involvement, we can now make a further substantial contribution to helping Synhelion scale up and commercialize its innovative alternative fuel product.”

Synhelion will use the funds generated by this latest financing round to expand its solar fuel production plant to industrial dimensions and operate it accordingly. The company has also set itself an ambitious timetable for the scale-up concerned.

“Our strategic collaboration with SWISS and the Lufthansa Group and the synergies this generates are hugely valuable and enable us to tailor our technology, our products and our business model perfectly to the market,” says Philipp Furler, Synhelion’s co-founder and CEO. “It’s great to see SWISS and the Lufthansa Group underpin their confidence in Synhelion through this investment, and to see them lead the way in the aviation sector by making this key contribution to scaling up our production. And we’re delighted to welcome SWISS to our network of investors.”

Sustainable fuels essential to achieving aviation’s climate goals

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) such as Synhelion’s solar fuel are essential to the achievement of the ambitious climate goals within the aviation sector. So helping to bring such fuels to market in sufficient volumes is a top priority. Doing so will require new forms of alliances and collaborations. “In teaming up with Synhelion, we’re not only helping to bring solar fuels to market,” SWISS CEO Vranckx adds. “We’re promoting Swiss innovation, too.”  

Decades of commitment from the Lufthansa Group

As a member of the Lufthansa Group, SWISS is further building on decades of experience in trialling and using sustainable aviation fuels. By participating in research programmes, pilot projects and alliances, the Lufthansa Group has steadily accumulated an extensive expertise in SAF technologies and their market development. SWISS and the Lufthansa Group are also evolving specific SAF initiatives for their private customers and corporate clients to further accelerate and finance the refinement of these technologies and bring their products to market in sufficient quantities. The resulting volumes of SAF should help send tangible global signals of demand for such products in the form of long-term procurement agreements. The Lufthansa Group is presently Europe’s biggest user of sustainable aviation fuel.

SWISS to fly the ‘new technology’ Airbus A350-900 from 2025

SWISS is to mark a new milestone in the modernization of its long-haul aircraft fleet: from 2025 onwards, the airline will gradually introduce five advanced, highly economical and carbon-efficient Airbus A350-900 twinjets to its intercontinental operations. The new aircraft will replace SWISS’s four remaining four-engined Airbus A340-300s in the longer term. The Airbus A350-900 is one of the quietest and lowest-emission long-haul aircraft of its kind, and will help SWISS substantially further improve its carbon emission credentials. SWISS will also equip its advanced new twinjets with an innovative high-quality cabin interior that will further enhance its guests’ air travel experience in all seating classes.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is taking a further major step forward in the modernization of its long-haul aircraft fleet. From 2025 onwards, Switzerland’s biggest airline will gradually take delivery of five new advanced, highly economical and low-emission Airbus A350-900 twinjets, which will replace the airline’s four remaining four-engined Airbus A340-300s in the longer term. The five aircraft concerned are part of a total order for twenty-five A350-900s which was placed by the Lufthansa Group in 2019. In doing so, SWISS is further underlining its endeavours to make its flight operations more sustainable, while also raising its customers’ air travel experience to new levels in all seating classes.

“We are very pleased to have achieved our turnaround after the coronavirus crisis and be back on a sound financial track,” says SWISS Chief Executive Officer Dieter Vranckx. “As a result of this, we are now in a position to invest again in the future of our company, in our people and in the quality that we offer our travelling guests. With this planned substantial modernization of our long-haul aircraft fleet, we are setting a vital course to sustainably maintain our competitive edge over the longer term.”

An advanced, low-emission and economical latest-generation aircraft

The two-engined Airbus A350-900 is one of the most advanced and economical long-haul aircraft in airline service today. It produces some 25 per cent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than its predecessor, and is more than twice as quiet, too. The A350-900 also consumes as little as 2.5 litres of kerosene per 100 passenger-kilometres. In its SWISS configuration, the twinjet will be equipped with an innovative and state-of-the-art cabin interior in all seating classes. It also offers a particularly large cargo capacity which will further support SWISS’s Swiss WorldCargo business.

“Our decision to acquire the Airbus A350-900 is a clear commitment to further enhancing the sustainability of our flight operations,” CEO Vranckx continues. “Our new long-haul twinjet will play a substantial part in achieving our ambitious climate goals. And in adding this latest-generation aircraft to our fleet, with all the additional inflight comfort it will provide for our guests, we are also further confirming our position as a premium air carrier.”

SWISS and kapers conclude new collective labour agreement

SWISS and the kapers union of its cabin personnel have reached an agreement on the cornerstones of a new collective labour agreement (CLA). With effect from 1 January 2023, the starting salary for cabin crew members will be raised to CHF 4,000, all further salaries will be increased by at least four per cent and actions will be adopted to enhance the social lives of the company’s cabin personnel in plannability terms. Kapers will submit the proposed new CLA23 to a referendum of its members for their approval.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and kapers, the union of its cabin personnel, have reached an agreement after robust negotiations on the cornerstones of a new collective labour agreement (CLA). The accord, which follows agreements with the company’s social partners for its ground and cockpit personnel, marks a further major achievement for all the parties involved. “I am very pleased that, with this new agreement, we have laid the last building block to give ourselves a firm foundation with all our personnel groups for the years ahead,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “With this new collective labour agreement, we aim to pay due tribute to the exceptional performance and commitment of our cabin personnel over the past few years, and simultaneously to provide the requisite stability and attractive prospects and perspectives for a successful future in 2023 and beyond.” CLA23 will remain in effect for at least five years.

New CHF 4,000 starting salary and increases to existing salaries of at least four per cent

One key element in the new CLA23 is the substantial across-the-board increases to cabin staff salaries. With effect from 1 January 2023, the monthly starting salary will be raised to CHF 4,000, and existing salaries will be increased by at least four per cent for all salary levels. The highest increases here will be seen with cabin crew members in the lower salary categories; but long-serving cabin staff, too, will see a sizeable rise in their monthly salaries.

Breitling launches new Navitimer watch exclusive to SWISS

Photo SWISS

Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling has launched a new watch model that is exclusive to SWISS. The new Navitimer B01 SWISS Limited Edition will be restricted to just 700 pieces and is available for sale solely on selected SWISS routes. SWISS and Breitling have been partners for years, and intensified their collaboration earlier this year to promote sustainable air travel.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is now offering its inflight guests the opportunity to acquire the new Breitling Navitimer B01 SWISS Limited Edition wristwatch. The launch of Breitling’s new watch model coincides with both the 70th anniversary of the company’s first iconic Navitimer chronograph and SWISS’s own 20th birthday. The new model, which is being produced in a limited edition of 700 pieces and is available exclusively on selected SWISS long-haul routes, was jointly unveiled this Thursday morning by SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx and Breitling CEO Georges Kern. The classic Breitling Navitimer aviator watch has proved hugely popular since the launch of its initial model back in 1952.

“SWISS and Breitling share the same values,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “Our brands are both bywords for the highest quality, and we both put a firm focus on the details. The new Navitimer SWISS Limited Edition excellently embodies all these characteristics. And I’m delighted that, to help mark our 20th anniversary, we can offer it exclusively to our SWISS inflight guests.”

SWISS reports a strong third quarter

With favourable market conditions in the summer months and efficiency gains through its restructuring activities, SWISS has seen its business recovery receive further thrust. In the first nine months of 2022 the company achieved an operating result of CHF +287.5 million (1st to 3rd quarter of 2021: CHF -375 million[1]). Total revenue for the first nine months was raised 132.3 per cent to CHF 3.18 billion (1st to 3rd quarter of 2021: CHF 1.37 billion). For the third-quarter period, operating profit was increased to CHF 220.5 million (3rd quarter of 2021: CHF 22.7 million[2]). SWISS expects to report a solid full-year operating profit for 2022.

In the traditionally high-traffic third-quarter period Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) was able to continue the positive business momentum of the previous months and further raise its operating profit for the year to date. The company was bolstered in doing so by almost unique market conditions which saw an industrywide reduction in capacities owing to global shortages of resources combine with sizeable pent-up travel and transport demand in both the passenger and the cargo segments. Operating results were further boosted by the cost optimizations and the profitability improvements deriving from the company’s restructuring activities.

In the first nine months of 2022 SWISS achieved an operating result of CHF +287.5 million (1st to 3rd quarter of 2021: CHF -375 million). Total nine-month revenue was raised 132.3 per cent to CHF 3.18 billion (1st to 3rd quarter of 2021: CHF 1.37 billion). For the third-quarter period, operating profit was increased to CHF 220.5 million (3rd quarter of 2021: CHF 22.7 million) on total revenue that was raised 88.2 per cent to CHF 1.33 billion (3rd quarter of 2021: CHF 707.8 million).

“In this most important quarter of the year for us as an airline in financial terms, the reduced capacities industrywide and the high pent-up demand for air travel combined to provide advantageous market conditions,” explains SWISS Chief Financial Officer Markus Binkert. “And thanks to our effective restructuring and the high scheduling stability that we managed to maintain throughout the summer months, we were able to translate these conditions into strong business results.”

Sizeable growth in passenger numbers

SWISS[3]) transported some 9.3 million travellers in the first nine months of 2022, around two-and-a-half times as many as it had in the same period last year. Over 78,000 flights were performed between January and September, more than twice as many as in the prior-year period. Systemwide available-seat-kilometre (ASK) capacity was up 82.5 per cent year-on-year, while total traffic volume for the period, measured in revenue passenger-kilometres (RPKs), was raised 186.6 per cent. Systemwide seat load factor for the first nine months of 2022 amounted to 79.6 per cent, 28.9 percentage points above its prior-year level.

In the third quarter of 2022 SWISS transported 4.0 million passengers, compared to 2.6 million in the prior-year period. Just under 31,000 flights were conducted, compared to some 22,000 in the third quarter of 2021. Systemwide third-quarter seat load factor amounted to 89.4 per cent, up 23.0 percentage points on its prior-year level. Over 99 per cent of SWISS’s flights were operated as scheduled in the third-quarter period.

A solid full-year operating profit expected for 2022

With its strong financial results for the first nine months of this year, SWISS has laid a sound business foundation for the seasonally weaker autumn and winter months. Despite the prevailing economic and geopolitical uncertainties, the company is currently seeing very high booking levels, and expects to report a solid full-year operating profit for 2022.

“The agreements that we have recently reached with our social partners for our ground and our cockpit personnel provide new prospects and perspectives and further strengthen our operational stability,” adds SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “As such, these developments are of fundamental importance to our continued business success, not only for 2022 but also beyond. We expect as well to be able to conclude our collective labour agreement negotiations with our social partner for our cabin personnel by the end of November.”

 

[1] In accordance with the corresponding accounting principles of the Lufthansa Group, the prior-year figures in SWISS’s financial reporting have been adjusted following changes to the definitions of certain key performance indicators. In November 2021 SWISS reported an operating result of CHF -391 million for the first nine months of 2021.

[2] See Footnote 1. In November 2021 SWISS reported an operating profit of CHF 6.7 million for the 2021 third-quarter period.

[3] Excluding Edelweiss Air

SWISS reintroduces duty-free shopping on board

Photo SWISS

SWISS is reintroducing its inflight duty-free shopping, which was suspended for the past two-and-a-half years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The service is being restored with an innovation: Miles & More award miles can now be used to purchase items aloft. The new inflight sales range also puts a particular focus on Swissness, sustainability and travel-related items.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is reintroducing its inflight duty-free shopping today (Tuesday 1 November). Following the suspension of the service in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for the past two-and-a-half years, travellers on all SWISS flights of 55 minutes or longer can now again purchase premium items aloft at substantially reduced prices that are tax and duty-free.

In an innovation for the restored inflight shopping service, SWISS travellers can also use Miles & More award miles they have earned to purchase items aloft, either entirely or in combination with a credit card payment. The same applies to any articles they purchase from the SWISS Saveurs inflight food and beverage range. Customers also newly earn Miles & More award miles for any credit card purchases on board.

“Our resumption of our inflight duty-free shopping is a further major step back to our full premium service,” says SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “Having had this facility suspended for two-and-a-half years, we are delighted that we can now offer our guests an inflight shopping experience that is even more diverse and is geared even more closely to their individual wishes and needs. And with the new additional option of using Miles & More award miles, our digital payment process is now even easier and more convenient, too.”

A focus on Swissness, sustainability and travel-related items

The newly redesigned SWISS inflight duty-free selection puts a particular emphasis on Swissness, sustainability and travel-related items. In addition to such classic premium articles as watches and sunglasses, the new inflight sales range includes a tin of selected Swiss chocolate specialities, a deodorant packaged in a sugar-cane bioplastic tube and children’s headphones inspired by endangered species from all over the world. Further information on SWISS’s new inflight duty-free shopping and details of the individual sales items are available on swiss.com.

SWISS and SBB add tourist destinations Lucerne and Interlaken to their SWISS Air Rail network

Photo SWISS

SWISS is further expanding the SWISS Air Rail network together with the Swiss Federal Railways. The new SWISS Air Rail services between Zurich Airport and the two popular tourist destinations of Lucerne and Interlaken will commence on 11 December 2022 and can be booked with immediate effect.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) work continually to further expand their joint product and service portfolio. As the latest result of the collaboration, Lucerne and Interlaken – two popular tourist destinations that also serve as an excellent base for exploring other regions – will be added to the partners’ SWISS Air Rail network from 11 December 2022. The new SWISS Air Rail services can be booked now for travel on or after 11 December.

Following this summer’s addition of Munich as its first international destination along with selected new intermediate points in Switzerland, SWISS Air Rail will thus now undergo further expansion. Lucerne and Interlaken will bring the intermodal SWISS Air Rail network to 11 destinations.

“As part of our strategic partnership with SBB, we are steadily expanding our SWISS Air Rail network, not least by adding attractive new tourist destinations,” explains SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour. “As a result, our inflight guests from elsewhere in Europe and all over the world can now travel swiftly and smoothly to some of the most appealing places in Switzerland. It’s seamless intermodality, to the benefit of all our customers.”

A new direct rail service between Zurich Airport and Interlaken

In co-offering the new SWISS Air Rail services from and to Interlaken and Lucerne, SWISS is providing customers in new Swiss regions with enhanced connections to and from its flight network. At the same time, the cities are two of the most popular destinations among visitors to Switzerland, who will also feel the benefit of these fast and direct rail services. SBB will offer a new direct service between Zurich Airport and Interlaken (with no change of train required) from the start of the new rail timetables on 11 December 2022.

SWISS and Aeropers agree on cornerstones of a new collective labour agreement

Photo SWISS

SWISS and the Aeropers pilots’ association agreed at the weekend on the cornerstones of a new collective labour agreement (CLA). Following a formulation phase, Aeropers will submit the new CLA to its members for referendum approval. SWISS also reached agreement with its ground staff social partners last week on annual salary adjustments for 2023.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and the Aeropers pilots’ association reached agreement at the weekend after two further days of negotiations on the cornerstones of a new collective labour agreement (CLA) for SWISS’s cockpit personnel. The new CLA features improvements both in the plannability of pilots’ social lives and on the salary front. Once it has been fully formulated, Aeropers will present the new CLA to its members for their referendum approval.

“I am very pleased that, after almost two years of tough negotiations, we and Aeropers have been able to reach agreement on the cornerstones of a new CLA for our cockpit personnel,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “This is a substantial success for everyone involved which will restore the usual industrial calm for both our company and our customers. And I’m convinced that this new CLA will provide both a sound foundation for our pilots’ futures and the stability that is so vital to SWISS.”

Agreement also reached with ground staff social partners

SWISS also reached agreement with its ground staff social partners last week on annual salary adjustments for 2023. The negotiations with kapers, SWISS’s social partner for its cabin personnel, on a new collective labour agreement are still under way. “I am confident that we will reach an agreement here, too, by the end of November,” says CEO Vranckx.

Daniel Bärlocher - SWISS’s Head of Corporate Communications to leave.....

Daniel Bärlocher is to leave SWISS  Photo SWISS

After more than 11 years as SWISS’s Head of Corporate Communications, Daniel Bärlocher is to leave the company.

After more than 11 years in the function as Head of Corporate Communications of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), Daniel Bärlocher is to leave the company to take a new path outside the airline sector. Among his numerous achievements during his SWISS tenure, Daniel Bärlocher has realigned the company’s Corporate Communications unit and adopted a newsroom approach to its communications planning and steering. Through various creative public relations events to strengthen its Swissness and its premium positioning, he has also helped generate sizeable and widespread positive reporting on SWISS that extends well beyond Switzerland’s borders. Daniel Bärlocher played a particularly vital role in the orchestration of SWISS’s restructuring and transformation in response to the COVID pandemic. Digitalization has also been driven strongly under his leadership, in both SWISS’s internal communications channels and on the corporate publishing front, where the two previous print inflight magazines have been transformed into an attractive digital platform that will shortly be launched.

“On behalf of our Board of Directors and our Management Board, I would like to offer Daniel Bärlocher my warmest thanks for his great commitment, his ever-professional advice and his many years of loyal service,” says SWISS CEO Dieter Vranckx. “We wish him all the best and every further success.”

The search for a successor solution will be initiated.

SWISS earns Skytrax awards for its First Class Lounges

SWISS was again honoured – twice – for its First Class Lounges at Zurich Airport in this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards. SWISS also earned a Top Ten place in the poll’s overall airline ranking of more than 350 air carriers.

Photo SWISS / Skytrax

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) earned first place in the two categories of ‘World’s Best First Class Lounge’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Lounge Dining’ in this year’s Skytrax World Airline Awards. The honours were bestowed at a Skytrax ceremony in London. The renowned Skytrax market research institute, which specializes in the air transport sector, had previously conducted a worldwide survey of some 13 million air travellers from more than 100 countries. In addition to its two First Class Lounge distinctions, SWISS earned a Top Ten place – at Number 10 (2021: 18) – in this year’s overall Skytrax ranking of the best airlines in the world, which extended to more than 350 air carriers.

“I am delighted that we have again been honoured for our First Class Lounges in these latest Skytrax awards,” says Julia Hillenbrand, Head of SWISS Brand Experience. “These awards confirm our standing as a strong premium brand. And being named by travellers as one of the world’s top ten airlines makes us particularly proud. That we have continued to convince our passengers of the outstanding quality of our product even through the extremely challenging past few years is thanks in no small part to the dedication and the professionalism of our employees.”

High-quality service

SWISS and Breitling team up to promote sustainable fuels

SWISS and Breitling team up to promote sustainable fuels

SWISS and Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling have entered into a new partnership which is the first of its kind in Switzerland. Under the new arrangement, Breitling will purchase sustainable aviation fuel for all its work-related travel on SWISS. 

As a result, Breitling will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions directly generated through such air travel by some 80 per cent. At the same time, the watch manufacturer will be making a key contribution to promoting the more extensive use of sustainable fuels.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling have entered into a new partnership which is the first of its kind in Switzerland. Breitling will now purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for all its work-related travel on SWISS-operated flights. Breitling thus becomes SWISS’s first corporate client to commit entirely to the use of SAF for its work-related air travel. By doing so, Breitling will reduce the carbon dioxide emissions generated through such air travel by some 80 per cent. Breitling will also offset the remaining CO2 emissions generated, via investments in high-value climate protection projects.

In committing to the use of SAF, Breitling is not only reducing its own carbon footprint: it is also making a key contribution to promoting sustainable air transport. SAF is currently only available in limited quantities. Through its commitment to using it, the Swiss watch manufacturer is sending a strong signal to the markets to expand the production and the use of such sustainable fuels.