SWISS strengthens position with Q3 results and extensive service offers in its winter schedule

The airfreight business of Swiss WorldCargo continued to show less-than-favourable trends in the third quarter, however, in the current business headwinds.

Pressure on yields increased in the third-quarter period, traditionally the strongest in business-volume terms. The smaller demand for premium-class seating and the corresponding increase in Economy Class business, along with continuing fare erosion, will only partially be reversed by any economic recovery.

The lingering industry crisis has further accelerated these trends. Thanks to the actions it has taken, however, especially on the cost side, SWISS has so far kept the effects of the global economic crisis largely under control.

SWISS plans to make further modifications to its capacities in the winter timetable period that are broadly of the scope seen in summer. European capacity will be cut by 1%, while intercontinental capacity will see reductions of some 9%, giving an overall systemwide reduction of 7% compared to the originally-published schedules (and a 5% reduction on prior-year production levels). Two long-haul aircraft remain temporarily withdrawn.

With the corresponding demand showing signs of renewed growth, SWISS will increase capacity to New York and Boston again from the beginning of December. SWISS will further be introducing its first daily Bangkok services with the start of the winter schedules; and service to Berlin will also be increased from five to six daily flights.

SWISS's extensive 48-destination European flight programme is completed by Lyon and Oslo, which were both newly added in the summer schedules. SWISS will continue to invest in its product and fleet as planned, to maintain its competitive edge in the longer term.

During the winter timetable, SWISS will serve 76 destinations (48 European and 28 intercontinental) in 40 countries in its coming winter schedules with a fleet of 85 aircraft (including seven operated under wet-lease arrangements). More than 30 further destinations will receive non-stop service to and from Zurich under codeshare agreements with partner air carriers.

From Dubai, SWISS continues to serve passengers with daily non-stop flights to and from Zurich with convenient connections to European and North American destinations.

"With our new A330-300 and product offerings, we are confident that our passengers will enjoy the unique comfort and convenience of flying via SWISS whether for business or leisure. SWISS has invested substantially to improve products which include the new Business Class seat with revolutionary air cushion with massage function that also turns into a two-metre lieflat bed," said Martin Massüger, Director, Head of Sales Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Iran for SWISS.

From Geneva, SWISS will be offering service to nine destinations with its own aircraft and a further 16 under codeshare arrangements in its winter schedules. Winter services from Basel will consist of nine destinations served with SWISS-operated aircraft and a further four under codeshare agreements.

SWISS operates non-stop daily flights from Dubai to Zurich, daily flights from Muscat, Oman and four weekly flights from Riyadh and Jeddah.