Airline Profile: SWISS International Airlines

Featured Image: A SWISS International Airlines Airbus A220 at Munich Airport

The Facts:

Analysis:

Notes:

1. – Swiss is the world’s largest operator of the Airbus A220, with around 27 delivered and a further three on order. The Airbus A220 was originally named the Bombardier C Series, although Airbus eventually bought the C Series program from Bombardier.
2. – Zurich is Swiss’s largest hub by far, although they also have a smaller hub in Geneva, from where they fly to a few destinations around Europe and to New York JFK.
3. – Swiss also operates select aircraft from third-party airlines. Helvetic Airways operates multiple routes within Europe for Swiss, using their Embraer E190 and Fokker 100 aircraft. Additionally, Austrian Airlines operates a few Bombardier Q400 aircraft for Swiss on some short-haul routes.
4. – Swiss’s subsidiary, Edelweiss Air is the firm’s leisure brand which flies to secondary or vacation long-haul and short-haul destinations such as Cape Town, Rio de-Jainero, or Cancun. They operate a fleet of Airbus A320s, A330s, and A340s, and are equipped with fully-flat business class seats on their long-haul aircraft.
5. – Swiss International Airlines currently has 5 Airbus A340-300s in their fleet; they used to have more, but they have retired some of them and given others to Edelweiss Air. The aircraft are intended to be retrofitted with new cabins this year, as currently, they feature Swiss’ oldest long-haul cabin product.

Travel Classes:

Economy Class: Swiss features economy class in a 2-3 configuration on all A220s, a 3-3 configuration on all A319s, A320s, and A321s, a 2-4-2 configuration on all Airbus A330s and A340s, and is in a 3-4-3 configuration on all Boeing 777s. Personal on-demand entertainment is available on all Airbus A330s and A340s and on all Boeing 777-300ERs. Keep in mind that since their A340s are significantly older than their A330s and 777s, that the entertainment screens are significantly older on those aircraft until they are retrofitted. The Boeing 777s and Airbus A330s are equipped with WiFi available for purchase. All Airbus A220s and A320 (short-haul aircraft) series aircraft don’t feature any in-flight entertainment or WiFi.

Free snacks or meals (dependant on the flight length) are served on all SWISS flights, even on intra-European flights. All passengers traveling in SWISS economy class on a regular fare ticket are allowed to check one 23kg (50lbs) bag for each flight and can bring one 8kg (17.5lbs) handbag onboard the aircraft. Please note that there is no extra legroom economy class section or premium economy section on SWISS.

Business Class (Short Haul): On short-haul flights, business class uses the same seats as in economy class, only with the middle seat blocked. This means that on the A320 series aircraft, there are six seats per row in business class, but only four are sold (with the middle seat being free) and on Airbus A220 aircraft, there are five seats per row (it is in a 2-3 configuration), but only three are sold with the middle seat (the three seat side of the aircraft) or the aisle seat (the two seat side of the aircraft) remaining free.

Since business class features such awful seats that have no more legroom or recline than in economy class, it really doesn’t make much sense to pay and book business class on short-haul flights, as you don’t get any more in-flight comfort. That being said, one does receive free warm meals on short-haul flights, have lounge access, get priority boarding, and more baggage allowance in business class on all short-haul flights.

Business Class (Long Haul): On all long-haul flights, SWISS uses the Thompson Vantage seat model, similar to the business class seats found on American/Delta’s 767 business class or on Austrian Airlines’ long-haul fleet. Therefore, business class is in a fully-flat staggered 1-2-1 and 2-2-1 configuration on A330s and A340s and is in a staggered 2-2-1 and 1-2-2 configuration on Boeing 777-300ERs.

The seats are pretty good, as very few seats in this configuration don’t have aisle access, although the seats are also pretty narrow. The seats are in no way industry leading but are definitely much better than angle-flat or recliner seats. If possible, pick one of the seats that doesn’t have a seat partner by the window (the so-called “throne seats”), as you get both an aisle seat and have access to the window.

Additionally, passengers receive an amenity kit with eye shades, ear plugs, toothbrush set and receive a blanket and pillow; passengers also get warm meals better than in economy class, as would be expected. Also, all long-haul business class seats are equipped with power outlets. Passengers also have access to the SWISS Business Lounges and to partnering Star Alliance Gold lounges and get priority boarding. Additionally, all business class passengers are able to check one 32kg (70lbs) bag for each flight and can bring one 8kg (17.5lbs) hand luggage onboard.

First Class: First Class is featured on all Airbus A330s, Airbus A340s, and Boeing 777-300ERs on Swiss. The airline features eight first-class seats on each aircraft, although features a different type of seat on each aircraft. The Airbus A340 by far features their worst first class product. While it is in a 1-2-1 configuration, the cabin really is extremely dated and the seats have almost no privacy. The entertainment screen is tiny and comes out of the armrest. If possible, avoid first class on the A340, as the cabin really isn’t up to standard anymore.

The Airbus A330 features much newer seats (also in a 1-2-1 configuration) and have much more privacy and better entertainment screens than on the A340, although also don’t have closed doors. SWISS’s 777 has the company’s best first class product, including suites with doors that can close entirely giving the seats a lot of privacy; the seats are up to international standard for first class.

Additionally, passengers traveling in First Class have access to SWISS first class lounges and partnering Star Alliance first class lounges around the world. Passengers also receive amenity kits more extravagant than in business class and also get in-flight loungewear/pajamas and mattress pads and more bedding. Additionally, passengers receive world-class food onboard and at airport lounges. Finally, in first class, the baggage allowance is the same as business class, with being able to check one 32kg (70lbs) bag for each flight and can bring one 8kg (17.5lbs) hand luggage onboard.

Future Routes:

• – Zurich to Gdansk, Poland – Begins March 31, 2019 – Airbus A220-300
• – Zurich to Heringsdorf, Germany – Begins May 4, 2019 – Airbus A220-100
• – Geneva to Faro, Portugal – Begins June 22, 2019 – Airbus A220-300
• – Zurich to Kalamata, Greece – Begins June 7, 2019 – Airbus A320 – Operated By Edelweiss Air
• – Zurich to Tirana, Albania – Begins April 1, 2019 – Airbus A320 – Operated By Edelweiss Air

Have you ever flown on Swiss International Airlines or Edelweiss Air? Share about your experience below in the comments section!