Nwaramper From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 40 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 6 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 5432 times:
The first flight on SWISS’s new Delhi route took off from Zurich today with 211 passengers on board. The flight – numbered LX 146 and operated by Airbus A330-200 “HB-IQK” – marks the first time the young company has added a further long-haul destination to its route network. With the new flights, together with the existing Zurich-Mumbai service, SWISS customers now have a choice of two daily non-stop connections between Switzerland and India.
It is the current demand-driven expansion of its long-haul fleet that is enabling SWISS to add Delhi and Shanghai to its intercontinental route network. While service to Shanghai will commence next May, the new daily non-stop flight between Zurich and Delhi was introduced today. The new service, which is operated with Airbus A330-200 equipment, joins the existing Zurich-Mumbai operation to offer SWISS customers two daily services between Switzerland and India, and should enable SWISS to strengthen its presence and position in the growing Indian market. Delhi becomes SWISS’s 28th intercontinental destination.
SWISS CEO Christoph Franz was aboard today’s first flight to Delhi – which was fully booked – together with 227 SWISS guests. “With our new non-stop service to Delhi and our existing Zurich-Mumbai operation, SWISS should be able to play a full and fruitful part in the rapidly-expanding Indian market. And the strong economic ties between India and Switzerland and the high demand we expect from non-government organisations make Delhi a very attractive addition to our growing route network.”
The trend is borne out by the statistics: Swiss exports to India have more than doubled in the last three years (and increased by 36% in 2006 alone); and imports of Indian products and services to Switzerland have also seen sizeable growth (of 11% last year). With its wide range of sights and cultural attractions, Delhi is an appealing tourist destination, too. And demand is also strong in the Indian market for travel to Switzerland and Europe, both in the tourist sector and among the business community.
“The extension of our services to our first additional long-haul destination is of tremendous symbolic importance to our company,” Christoph Franz continues. “SWISS has reached a stable cruising altitude, and can now grow gradually in response to demand.”
SWISS flights to Delhi will be available for as little as CHF 999 between now and March 13, 2008. The special price is for round-trip Economy Class travel and includes all taxes and charges, but must be booked online at www.swiss.com. Needless to say, as with all SWISS scheduled flights, Miles & More members will earn miles on all Zurich-Delhi services.
SWISS’s schedules between Switzerland and India:
Zurich – Delhi LX 146 Dep 12:30 Arr 00:35* (daily)
Delhi – Zurich LX 147 Dep 01:55 Arr 06:25 (daily)
Zurich – Mumbai LX 154 Dep 09:55 Arr 22:30 (daily)
Mumbai – Zurich LX 155 Dep 01:25 Arr 06:15 (daily)
* the following day
Swiss International Air Lines Ltd.
Corporate Communications
Nimish From India, joined Feb 2005, 3078 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (5 years 6 months 14 hours ago) and read 5074 times:
congratulations to LX and *A on further enhancing services to India... I wish LX all the best on this new route and hope they can make it work (something that AC was not able to manage)...
Cfalk From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (5 years 6 months 13 hours ago) and read 5027 times:
Why the hell did Swiss stop the service to Delhi a couple of years ago? I used to take that flight at least once a month, since the Swissair days. It certainly wasn't because of the load factors - the planes were always nearly full, and ticket prices were high.
LAXDESI From United States of America, joined May 2005, 5085 posts, RR: 48 Reply 5, posted (5 years 6 months 12 hours ago) and read 4994 times:
What is Swiss's NA network like? Do the current India-Zurich flights have short transit time to Zurich-NA flights on Swiss and *A member flights? Thanks in advance for any info.
LXA340 From Switzerland, joined Nov 2006, 2104 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (5 years 6 months 6 hours ago) and read 4860 times:
Quoting Cfalk (Reply 4): Why the hell did Swiss stop the service to Delhi a couple of years ago? I used to take that flight at least once a month, since the Swissair days. It certainly wasn't because of the load factors - the planes were always nearly full, and ticket prices were high.
Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 5): What is Swiss's NA network like? Do the current India-Zurich flights have short transit time to Zurich-NA flights on Swiss and *A member flights? Thanks in advance for any info.
At the time the Delhi flights were discontinued the managment went through a over reaction and also profitable routes got canceled, it was in 2003 when also PVG / PEK were discontinued during SARS. This was all done as a consequence that LX was loosing money and was far away from being profitable in 2003 however various mistakes were made by canceling routes like DEL and also the China route after a few months the SARS problem stabilised again.
on NA - INDIA you have good connections to DEL from JFK, EWR, MIA, ORD and BOS (Around 1h transit time). For BOM you have good connections from JFK, YUL, YYZ (AC), IAD (UA) and PHL (US) (Transit time ranging from 1-3h). Both DEL and BOM flights arrive to ZRH at identical time. You have connections to all North America destinations out of ZRH however transit time is between 3h to 11h depending on the destinations.
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5540 posts, RR: 40 Reply 7, posted (5 years 6 months 6 hours ago) and read 4848 times:
Quoting LAXDESI (Reply 5): What is Swiss's NA network like? Do the current India-Zurich flights have short transit time to Zurich-NA flights on Swiss and *A member flights? Thanks in advance for any info.
Both India flights arrive in ZRH short after 0600. The first JFK flight leaves at 0950, ORD 1255, LAX 1305, MIA 1300, YUL 1250. BOS, EWR and the second JFK later in the afternoon. In the morning there are also the IAD and the PHL by UA and US, and the YYZ by AC.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21495 posts, RR: 24 Reply 11, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 4424 times:
Quoting Nwaramper (Thread starter): marks the first time the young company has added a further long-haul destination to its route network.
Are you overlooking SCL? I think it was an earlier addition to the LX longhaul network in 2006. I believe GRU was LX's only destination in South America for the first few years after they replaced Swissair.
ZRH From Switzerland, joined Nov 1999, 5540 posts, RR: 40 Reply 12, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 4310 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 11): Are you overlooking SCL? I think it was an earlier addition to the LX longhaul network in 2006. I believe GRU was LX's only destination in South America for the first few years after they replaced Swissair.
I think you are right. But even Christoph Franz talked in an interview about the "first new intercontinental route". I think he meant the first new intercontinental flight as SCL is only an extension from the GRU flight.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 73 Reply 13, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 4303 times:
Quoting LXA340 (Reply 2):
Is there any info out already how LX will plan to phase in the A333's like, which routes will get F and or the A333 in 2009, 10, 11?
Chicago just got F (upgraded to 340). Boston gets F in April (also A340 upgrade), Miami in July (again, goes to an A340). In 2009, it will roll out to Delhi and Mumbai. In 2010, Dar Es Salaam, Montreal, and Nairobi will complete the roll out.
SandroZRH From Switzerland, joined Feb 2007, 3382 posts, RR: 51 Reply 14, posted (5 years 5 months 4 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 4267 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 13): In 2009, it will roll out to Delhi and Mumbai. In 2010, Dar Es Salaam, Montreal, and Nairobi will complete the roll out.
Eventually, all A332s will be replaced by A333s, meaning JFK will see the 333s aswell as DXB-MCT and TLV (which is set to go double-daily A332 soon.) Furthermore, Nairobi, Malabo and all the other African destinations (minus JNB) will see the 333s.
Eventually, all A332s will be replaced by A333s, meaning JFK will see the 333s aswell as DXB-MCT and TLV (which is set to go double-daily A332 soon.) Furthermore, Nairobi, Malabo and all the other African destinations (minus JNB) will see the 333s.
That is the roll out of First Class, not the A333s.
PlunaCRJ From Uruguay, joined Nov 2007, 573 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4108 times:
Given India´s growth, I think every possible flight to India from any airline is a good idea at this point. Of course avoiding the blood bath of over competition on some routes.
MAH4546 From Sweden, joined Jan 2001, 31118 posts, RR: 73 Reply 18, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4101 times:
Quoting SandroZRH (Reply 16): Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 15):
That is the roll out of First Class, not the A333s.
From what I know, all A333s will have first class.
Yes, they will. Though currently all A332s don't, and that schedule is the roll-out of when current destinations that have no First Class will receive First Class.
SandroZRH From Switzerland, joined Feb 2007, 3382 posts, RR: 51 Reply 19, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 4088 times:
Quoting MAH4546 (Reply 18): Yes, they will. Though currently all A332s don't, and that schedule is the roll-out of when current destinations that have no First Class will receive First Class.
Not all A332s don't, just a subleet of the A332 fleet doesn't have F class
LXA340 From Switzerland, joined Nov 2006, 2104 posts, RR: 4 Reply 20, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 18 hours ago) and read 4047 times:
Quoting SandroZRH (Reply 16): From what I know, all A333s will have first class.
LX plans to have it's entire fleet with 3 classes. Now all A343's have F and 5 A332's. I received a newsletter yesterday that says that TLV will go double daily A343 in March, I also first thought it's with A332. Probably JFK will be one of the first routes to get the A333 as this route is highly competitive and they need a good product for it unlike the A332. But still I hope that A343's will start to get upgraded with the same cabin as will be introduced on the A333's that LX will finnaly have a constant long haul product.
Viscount724 From Switzerland, joined Oct 2006, 21495 posts, RR: 24 Reply 21, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3990 times:
Quoting LXA340 (Reply 20): Quoting SandroZRH (Reply 16):
From what I know, all A333s will have first class.
LX plans to have it's entire fleet with 3 classes. Now all A343's have F and 5 A332's.
I question the logic in offering F class on all longhaul flights. Not all markets have a demand for F class, YUL for example. However for much of the year you could easily fill another 40 or 50 Y class seats that would be possible without F class. Even carriers with strong premium class products like BA have a variety of longhaul configurations, including some aircraft with no F class, for use on such routes with no F class demand (BA has not offered F class to YUL and several US destinations for several years).
LX (and LH) seem to be going in the opposite direction from the many major carriers that used to have F class on their entire longhaul fleet and either dropped it completely or limited it to only part of their fleet to serve the very limited numbere of markets with significant F class demand.
Personally, I think LX would be smarter to either drop F class (or do as they do now, restrict it to only a few routes where it makes sense) and significantly upgrade their business class product, and if they want 3 classes, add a decent premium economy class. Flying empty first class cabins around when that valuable real estate could be used for products much more likely to generate good revenue doesn't make sense to me.
Abrelosojos From Venezuela, joined May 2005, 4918 posts, RR: 55 Reply 22, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 3966 times:
Quoting LXA340 (Reply 6): on NA - INDIA you have good connections to DEL from JFK, EWR, MIA, ORD and BOS (Around 1h transit time). For BOM you have good connections from JFK, YUL, YYZ (AC), IAD (UA) and PHL (US) (Transit time ranging from 1-3h). Both DEL and BOM flights arrive to ZRH at identical time. You have connections to all North America destinations out of ZRH however transit time is between 3h to 11h depending on the destinations.
= Besides the good connections, passengers will go through one of the most calm and pleasant European transfer experiences out there! Good work LX.
Also, I understand that Delhi has become extremely slot restricted at the peak midnight hours, and that LX managed to get these slots from AC. With AZ ending Delhi flights has any airline shown interest for these 'peak slots'?
SandroZRH From Switzerland, joined Feb 2007, 3382 posts, RR: 51 Reply 24, posted (5 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 3706 times:
Quoting BCA2005 (Reply 23): Isn't 1h20m abit of a short turnaround time?
Perfectly fine for an A332.
25 B747forever: No, it is not to short time. If the a/c departs from ZRH on time, there is no problems.
26 Qazar: With this, the LH/LX group has some pretty serious presence in India: FRA-DEL (LH B744 - daily) FRA-BOM (LH B744 - daily) FRA-MAA (LH B744 - daily) FR
27 Mk777: I think AZ is still flying MXP-DEL-MXP. Not sure when the service is going to be suspended. I guess in 2010, once the new terminal is built, expect a
28 ZRH: ZRH-DEL is daily and not 6x. At least according to the LX page: http://booking.swiss.com/web/tt.htm?page=TT [Edited 2007-12-03 09:33:33][Edited 2007-
29 ZRH: BTW Swiss nearly doesn't have any long-haul anymore which only go 5/6 per week (probably some exceptions like the PrivatAir to EWR). With the new air
33 N1120A: The next place SWISS should reopen is THR. Prior to disappearing, Swissair was a big player in the US-Iran market and funneled a lot of ex-LAX passeng
34 ZRH: Yes. Almost all are daily besides probably a few African destinations.
35 ZRH: Are there really enough masochists who want to fly to this place? Oil business? Besides this I can not imagine why anyone goes there.
36 Abrelosojos: Does anyone have pics of the inaugural? Cheers, A. PS: Swiss members - did they FINALLY release GROUNDING with English subtitles?
37 SandroZRH: I haven't heard of anything. Funny you mention that, they'll show it on Swiss TV 1 for the first time next sunday.
38 Abrelosojos: = Whats wrong with them?! Its such a fantastic movie and I really think it would embrace a global audience. Cheers, A.
39 B747forever: That is what I thought. How are the LAX flights doing for LX. can we see them operating twice a day????
40 LXA340: They used to have yield problems with the flight don't know if this was improved. I doubt we would see a double daily LAX flight. Frequency was incre
41 N1120A: The downgrading of the flight from daily to 5x combined with the pull out from key transfer markets for high yield passengers really hurt the yields
42 ZRH: I doubt seriously. It is rather polemic and with some errors. About like this piece of chunk made by Al Gore.
43 Viscount724: The lowest current LX special return fare ZRH-LAX is only 50 Swiss Francs (approx. $44 US) higher than the equivalent fare ZRH-YUL but LAX is 59% fur
44 SandroZRH: Yeh right! CHF50??? There's somethign wrong with your maths, I can't even get an ID ticket for CHF50 The lowest economy special fares recently advert
45 LXA340: Anybody know which routes are currently the best performing in the LX network and which ones are the least profitable?
46 ZRH: I think you did not read the post of Viscount 724 right. He said CHF 50 HIGHER than to YUL not a fare of CHF 50.  [Edited 2007-12-04 06:02:36
47 B747forever: Have seen that LX have really low fares to LAX from ARN, compared to other carriers. Think that I will go for them next summer.
48 SandroZRH: Oh bummer, my mistake! I sincerely apologise Viscount724, of course you're right! I guess it's not the best idea to post on a.net after getting back
49 ZRH: Did you want to go through a wall with your head? No, I hope you are alright.
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