Swiss Airlines

  About Swiss International Airlines

Swiss International Air Lines, also popularly known as Swiss or Swiss Air Lines, is the national flag carrier of Switzerland. The airline operates scheduled services across Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa. While Zurich Airport serves as the airline's single hub, Geneva Airport is the focus city for Swiss. The airline came into existence in 2002, after Swissair, Switzerland's former flag carrier, filed for bankruptcy. Swiss was built around Swissair's regional subsidiary Crossair. Hence, Swiss International Air Lines continues to retain Crossair's IATA code instead of Swissair's code. The airline is part of the Star Alliance and is also a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group. Originally, Swiss wished to be part of the Oneworld airline alliance. However, it was blocked by British Airways to which it played a competition with respect to long-haul routes. However, Swiss decided to go with Star Alliance instead as they didn't wish to integrate with the current frequent flyer program of British Airways' Executive Club. Further on this, Swiss also assumed the relationship to be one-sided with British Airways sapping out all the benefits with nothing left for Swiss.

With the revival of Swiss, the airlines managed to recover half the losses by recording a net profit of USD220 million. Further, the net profit more than doubled with the net profit turning USD570 million in 2007. In 2005, with the birth of the airlines, German-based Lufthansa Group announced that they would be taking over Swiss starting from 11 per cent of stake. Eventually, the operations of Swiss were integrated with Lufthansa's by the second half of 2005. A complete takeover took place in 2007. Following the takeover, Crossair's regional fleet Embraer ERJs and Saabs to Avro RJs that were owned by Swiss Global Air Lines. In 2010, Swiss and Lufthansa were announced in the European Commission investigation due to reports of price-fixing. However, they were not fined as they acted as a whistle-blower. Following the incident, in 2011, Swiss brought forth their new company logo, which resembled the original logo of the Swissair. Initially, Swiss International Air Lines' head office was the same as the head office of Crossair. But it has been moved to Zurich Airport for all operations.

Swiss' headquarters is located at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg near Basel in Switzerland. Part of the office is at Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland. Some of the subsidiaries of Swiss International Air Lines Group are Edelweiss Air, Swiss AviationSoftware, Swiss Aviation Training, Swiss WorldCargo and SWISStours.

Fleet size of Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is currently handling a fleet size of 89. The aircraft are majorly Airbus variants with one 12 Boeing 777-300ERs. The highest number of aircraft include 20 Airbus A220-300 and 19 Airbus A320-200. Swiss International Air Lines' regional carrier, Helvetic Airways, majorly operates ten Embraer 190 aircraft on behalf of its parent company. Meanwhile, Adria Airways also operated under Swiss and had two Saab 2000s connecting the Zurich - Lugano route. However, the airline was suspended following them filing for bankruptcy in 2019. For the longest time, Swiss Global Air Lines also operated Boeing 777-300ER and Airbus A220-100/300 as part of its fleet. The subsidiary was ceased in 2018 with a view to administer costs and to simplify the fleet structures of Swiss International Air Lines. The airline has brought together the aircraft in its fleet. The aircraft fleet of Swiss International Air Lines has been christened after the local towns and cities since 2007. The names feature on the fuselage of all the aircraft as the cabin interiors have the coat of arms of the town or city.

In 2010, on behalf of Swiss, Lufthansa announced that they would be ordering 48 new aircraft for both the airlines. Later in 2013, the airline ordered six Boeing 777-300ERs. Additionally, in 2015, Swiss confirmed that Lufthansa is ordering three more Boeing 777-300ERs on their behalf. The airline also announced that they would be upgrading their first-class cabins and install eight private suites along with a 32-inch TV, business class seats to be converted into full flatbeds and about 270 economy class seats with a 3-4-3 configuration. Swiss also plans to replace much of their Airbus A340 aircraft with Boeing aircraft.

Meanwhile, five of the A340s will be refurbished and carried by airline. Swiss International Air Lines recently completed refurbishing all the A320s of their fleet with newer interiors and top-class facilities. Before the fleet converted to Airbus and Boeing, Swiss also accommodated Avro RJs, McDonnell Douglas aircraft and Saab 2000. However, these lines have been passed on to the regional subsidiaries of the airline.

Swiss International Air Lines Baggage Allowance

Baggage allowance in Swiss International Air Lines is segregated as per the domestic routes and international routes where the carrier connects. For the European routes, the airline allows a total weight of 23 kg that can be carried in checked baggage. This is strictly reserved for classic and flex cabin of the economy class. You can only carry one bag with you that can be checked. Meanwhile, the business class allows 32 kg, which rounds up to a total of 64 kg for two bags that can be checked. One of the big benefits of business class is that you can carry more luggage with you. While the weight capacity is diverse for different ticket types, the dimension of the baggage cannot exceed 158 cm, including handles, wheels and pockets. However, the maximum for a business class passenger's baggage would be 292 cm and cannot exceed the same. For additional baggage, you will be charged a certain fee that you might have to pay at the airport. Again, the baggage allowance on Swiss International Air Lines does tweak a little if you are a frequent flyer member or a Star Gold member.

International route flights have some additions with respect to the baggage limits. Since the international aircraft are equipped with the economy, business and first-class, the allowance for passengers to carry bags also vary accordingly. Swiss Economy allows a maximum of one luggage which should weigh no more than 23 kg and cannot exceed 158 cm dimension. Passengers flying from Swiss Business are allowed to carry two maximum baggage which should weigh no more than 32 kg each. The bags should also not exceed the dimension of 292 cm, inclusive of height, width and length. As for Swiss First, the airline allows three bags to weigh 32 kg each. The airline allows a total of 96 kg for first-class passengers. The hand baggage allowed are one for the Swiss Economy, two for Swiss Business and Swiss First respectively. The dimensions of all the bags should not exceed 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Along with the carry-on baggage, the passenger is also allowed to take a personal piece to the cabin, which could be a handbag, a laptop bag or a briefcase.

Swiss International Air Lines In-flight services

Swiss First - Swiss First class' in-flight services are exemplary as they offer personal space with armchairs that can be converted into full flatbeds. Along with the comfortable seating, the airline also has a gourmet meal that can be availed on long-haul flights. The dishes are mostly inspired by Swiss cuisine and is always accompanied by fine wine of your choice. The seats are also equipped with entertainment systems and magazines. Along with the exquisite services and hospitality, the airline further offers a pillow and blankets by La Prairie and amenity kit by fashion brand Bally.

Swiss Business - Although Swiss Business lacks the comfort of privacy that the first-class allows, the in-flight services are exemplary. The business seats are spacious and have a dedicated workspace for the passengers. One can easily convert the seats into a 2-metre long flatbed and also has massage facilities. The dining is exquisite as the airline is recognised for its award-winning in-flight meals. Not to mention how the business and first-class also have entertainment facilities such as adjustable screens and a magazine. Swiss also offers a travel kit to the passengers, which contain high-end products for the passenger's comfort.

Swiss Economy - The economy class of Swiss International Air Lines has comfortable seating with adjustable headrest and availability of extra legroom. The airline also has personalised entertainment systems attached on each seat for the passengers. They have TV shows, blockbuster movies and many award-winning documentaries. You will need to book for meals in advance and get the best of Swiss' in-flight services.

Popular routes and top cities for Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines is known for its excellent connectivity with a majority of international hubs. The airline's strong domestic route and international route connectivity are what makes it stand out. Top cities for the airline include Beijing, Shanghai, Montreal, Brussels, Paris, Nice, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Delhi, Mumbai, Dublin, Rome, Venice, Florence, Tokyo, Nairobi, Luxembourg City, Amsterdam, Oslo, Warsaw, Singapore, Barcelona, Stockholm, Bangkok, London, Los Angel/es, Newark, New York City and San Francisco, to name a few.

Why travel by Swiss International Air Lines?

What makes Swiss International Air Lines one of the most sought-after airlines in the world is its world-class in-flight services as well as extensive network. The airline caters to the comfort of the passengers by offering web check-ins, intimations of the flight status, flight schedules of Swiss and convenient booking of a Swiss flight. It is practically perfect and also enables comfort and affordability.