SWISS to Invest Over CHF 1 billion in Fleet Renewal

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to invest more than CHF 1 billion in renewing its intercontinental aircraft fleet, replacing nine Airbus A330-200s with bigger and more advanced A330-300s.

With the service entry of the new aircraft, SWISS will provide First Class cabins throughout its long-haul fleet. It will also offer First Class to all its long-haul destinations. With the Airbus A330-300s accommodating more seats than the aircraft they replace, the fleet renewal will also increase SWISS’s long-haul seating capacity. The airline will also be adding four more Airbus A320 aircraft to its European operations over the next few years.

By purchasing the nine new aircraft, SWISS will also substantially increase the proportion of owned aircraft in its long-haul fleet. The new transports will also enable the company to reduce the specific CO2 emissions of its Airbus A330 contingent by a further 13%. The SWISS fleet already consumes only 3.8 litres of fuel per 100 passenger-kilometres, a 16% reduction on the 4.5 litres of five years ago.

SWISS’s Airbus A330-200s will be gradually phased out in favour of the more advanced A330-300s. The first four A330-300s will enter service in 2009, with the remaining five following in 2010 and 2011. Two of the present eleven-member A330-200 fleet will be replaced next year with the previously-announced arrival of two further Airbus A340s, which will also be equipped with First Class cabins.

The airline will also take delivery of two more Airbus A320s for its European fleet at the beginning of next year. And the company is purchasing two new A320s for delivery in 2011 and 2012. The four additional A320s will enable SWISS to benefit from the present growth in the European air transport market and to further expand its network in response to demand.

The above capacity increases are expected to provide more jobs at SWISS: a further 165 positions will be created in the company’s flying corps alone.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Hotels,