Welcome to the Swiss Aviation Thread 2021. Please continue to post your news and your discussion here.

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Swiss Aviation Thread - 2020

Just in time for the new year LX received their 3rd A320 NEO today, HB-JDC.

I also noticed that the restriction for the A220's not to fly higher than 28'000 Feet was lifted recently, looks like they could fix the issues with the engines.

LXA340 wrote:

Just in time for the new year LX received their 3rd A320 NEO today, HB-JDC.

I also noticed that the restriction for the A220's not to fly higher than 28'000 Feet was lifted recently, looks like they could fix the issues with the engines.

I wondered when thats gonna be the case, it took quite a while. Maybe also due to low loads? Nice to see anyway.

AntonovA330 wrote:

LXA340 wrote:

Just in time for the new year LX received their 3rd A320 NEO today, HB-JDC.

I also noticed that the restriction for the A220's not to fly higher than 28'000 Feet was lifted recently, looks like they could fix the issues with the engines.

I wondered when thats gonna be the case, it took quite a while. Maybe also due to low loads? Nice to see anyway.

They wanted to lift it for the whole fleet, that's why it took that long.

A rare visitor for ZRH, TUI Netherlands 788 PH-TFL arrived in ZRH carrying the U20 Ice Hockey Teams of Finland and Switzerland which routed AMS-YEG-HEL-ZRH-AMS



https://twitter.com/ZRHworker/status/13 ... 53381?s=20

LXA340 wrote:

Just in time for the new year LX received their 3rd A320 NEO today, HB-JDC.

I also noticed that the restriction for the A220's not to fly higher than 28'000 Feet was lifted recently, looks like they could fix the issues with the engines.

Good news! I wonder if the manufacturer will be paying back some of the extra fuel burnt - this restrictions must have lasted more than 18 months??

Swiss says it will only plan 50% capacity for S21.
Says resumption of long-haul network, especially to the U.S. is a crucial part in its recovery.

https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/ ... -us-routes

I wonder if the A340s will be kept after the W2020/2021 schedule ends

At Edelweiss they will I guess, at LX probably too.

mercure1 wrote:

Swiss says it will only plan 50% capacity for S21.
Says resumption of long-haul network, especially to the U.S. is a crucial part in its recovery.

https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/ ... -us-routes

Thanks for posting. As LX is long-haul heavy this is a given for them. Will be interesting to see the development of LX in the post C19 world (that hopefully starts ASAP). I suspect that there will be intense competition on TATL routs and some rockbottom margin Y fares. I suspect that future growth (or rather a return to 2019 levels) WK might benefit as they are less premium heavy and more focused on leisure travel.

When will LX return to MIA and LAX?

I'm sure the A340s will be kept given that they've just been refurbished. Are the plans to add Premium Economy to the 777s still going ahead/has it been delayed/cancelled?

miaintl wrote:

When will LX return to MIA and LAX?

Heard LAX will resume from 27Jan - 1 x weekly - though not sure if its Cargo only flight or regular PAX flight
MIA is scheduled from 01-Mar - 3 X weekly

correct, LAX will be 1 weekly from 27JAN onwards ops 77W

Also LX will start ops to :

ZRH-KIX 1x weekly
ZRH-LIM 1x weekly
ZRH-ICN 1x weekly

all ops 77W.

DALCE wrote:

ZRH-LIM 1x weekly

Are you sure they will star Lima, Peru?

Any word on when JFK-GVA resumes?

SWISS website shows a flight from GVA to JFK on Sun 28-March with seats available, but as to whether that actually happens...

Probably there is high cargo demand on these routs. I can't imagine that LX will fly long term to LIM as that would be an ideal destination for WK, as I don't think there is a strong F and J demand. (Peru has just recently decided on stricter entry requirements, same as Japan, so I can't see the pax demand).

Once international travel is possible in a more or less normal fashion again I can't see any of the three destinations remaining in LX's network. KIX was a new destination designed for the best aviation market (something unlikely to be the case before 2025), ICN has usually a KE service and LIM is a leisure destination with lower premium demand (good option for WK though).

Sources:
Peru https://www.traveloffpath.com/peru-effe ... tine-rule/
Japan: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/ ... -citizens/

Rubani294 wrote:

miaintl wrote:

When will LX return to MIA and LAX?

Heard LAX will resume from 27Jan - 1 x weekly - though not sure if its Cargo only flight or regular PAX flight
MIA is scheduled from 01-Mar - 3 X weekly

It looks like LAX is cargo-only (not available for pax sales) but MIA appears to be on sale (Tu Th Sa from ZRH).

[*]

davidjohnson6 wrote:

SWISS website shows a flight from GVA to JFK on Sun 28-March with seats available, but as to whether that actually happens...

GVA-JFK should only restart this Summer from the latest I heard from the airport. QR, CA, AC and at least one UA flight as well. Less certainty about KQ.

jghealey wrote:

I'm sure the A340s will be kept given that they've just been refurbished. Are the plans to add Premium Economy to the 777s still going ahead/has it been delayed/cancelled?

According to a direct request via Instagram, Swiss has just posponed the "Premium Economy Project". Date is not known yet.

starkwind wrote:

DALCE wrote:

ZRH-LIM 1x weekly

Are you sure they will star Lima, Peru?

yes, I am. LX26** / LX27** flightnumbers appear to be cargo only

DALCE wrote:

yes, I am. LX26** / LX27** flightnumbers appear to be cargo only

Thank you! That is a first, correct? Tried to find something about it, but google wasn't too helpful.

I guess so, LX has no freighters in the fleet, and normally is a passenger airline. These times are different and cargo is generating cash-flow, so makes sense to me. AA, DL, BA and many others are doing the same.

panamair wrote:

Rubani294 wrote:

miaintl wrote:

When will LX return to MIA and LAX?

Heard LAX will resume from 27Jan - 1 x weekly - though not sure if its Cargo only flight or regular PAX flight
MIA is scheduled from 01-Mar - 3 X weekly

It looks like LAX is cargo-only (not available for pax sales) but MIA appears to be on sale (Tu Th Sa from ZRH).

It seems like MIA won't be starting on 01-Mar as earlier announced. Currently suspended UFN.

Rubani294 wrote:

panamair wrote:

Rubani294 wrote:

Heard LAX will resume from 27Jan - 1 x weekly - though not sure if its Cargo only flight or regular PAX flight
MIA is scheduled from 01-Mar - 3 X weekly

It looks like LAX is cargo-only (not available for pax sales) but MIA appears to be on sale (Tu Th Sa from ZRH).

It seems like MIA won't be starting on 01-Mar as earlier announced. Currently suspended UFN.

01-Mar schedules always seemed optimistic. MIA actually did resume, one the first to do so, but then was switched out for LH to FRA.

Mia-zrh is still bookable for April though.

miaintl wrote:

Mia-zrh is still bookable for April though.

The international schedule isn’t updated yet past March 27th.

Starting from March 1st, Air Serbia will introduce two weekly flights between Belgrade and Geneva.

https://www.exyuaviation.com/2021/01/ai ... rvice.html

Since Switzerland suspended mandatory quarantine for those coming from Serbia, JU will also increase BEG-ZRH to daily starting from 01.02.2021.

Serbia is among the first countries in Europe to start mass vaccination so I expect market to start recovering quite fast.

Amazing to see LX reduced its Geneva operations "to an absolute minimum" to mere 20 weekly flights (13 ZRH, 7 FRA)

https://swiss.newsmarket.com/english/pr ... cbe7fd8372

Overall LX in February will operate only 10 percent of its network services compared to 2019.

Swiss issued legal notice it plans to terminate its pilots collective labour agreements following failed talks with Aeropers union on sufficient concessions.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... otiations/

How is ZRH doing these days? How badly was its traffic affected?

According to Skyliner, Swiss is returning HB-IOK to its lessor. Almost 22 years after it was delivered, to then, Swissair

Airbus A321 -111 987 HB-IOK Swiss International ferried 08feb21 ZRH-SNN-CDT, basic cs on return to lessor

LX extends its "minimum" Geneva flight operations until 27 March.

https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/luft ... -27-march/

Blerg wrote:

How is ZRH doing these days? How badly was its traffic affected?

Pretty abysmal, and now government has added a bunch more countries and territories to the quarantine list, including Serbia, Albania, Berlin and Paris.

"In January 2021, 287’767 passengers passed through Zurich Airport, corresponding to a decrease of 86.6% compared to last year.

Local passengers decreased by 84.5% to 229’080 in January 2021. The transfer rate is at 19.7% in the month under review (-11.4 percentage points vs. previous year) and transfer passengers decreased by 91.6% to 56’342.
In January 2021, air traffic movements decreased to 5’553 (-73.0% vs. previous year). The average passenger per movement figure decreased to 79.4 (-34.6% vs. previous year). The average seat load factor is at 45.6% (-26.3 percentage points vs. previous year).

In January 2021, a total of 23’685 tonnes of freight were transported at Zurich Airport. This corresponds to a decrease in freight volume of 29.0% compared to last year."

https://www.aviation24.be/airports/zuri ... 2021-86-6/

eurotrader85 wrote:

Blerg wrote:

How is ZRH doing these days? How badly was its traffic affected?

Pretty abysmal, and now government has added a bunch more countries and territories to the quarantine list, including Serbia, Albania, Berlin and Paris.

"In January 2021, 287’767 passengers passed through Zurich Airport, corresponding to a decrease of 86.6% compared to last year.

Local passengers decreased by 84.5% to 229’080 in January 2021. The transfer rate is at 19.7% in the month under review (-11.4 percentage points vs. previous year) and transfer passengers decreased by 91.6% to 56’342.
In January 2021, air traffic movements decreased to 5’553 (-73.0% vs. previous year). The average passenger per movement figure decreased to 79.4 (-34.6% vs. previous year). The average seat load factor is at 45.6% (-26.3 percentage points vs. previous year).

In January 2021, a total of 23’685 tonnes of freight were transported at Zurich Airport. This corresponds to a decrease in freight volume of 29.0% compared to last year."

https://www.aviation24.be/airports/zuri ... 2021-86-6/

Serbia will be a pretty big blow for ZRH as in 2019 there were, if I remember correctly, around 450.000 passengers flying between BEG and ZRH. Pretty busy route with decent passenger volume.

Serbia vaccinated close to 11% of its population. I can't understand why they don't allow those who are vaccinated to travel freely.

Blerg wrote:

eurotrader85 wrote:

Blerg wrote:

How is ZRH doing these days? How badly was its traffic affected?

Pretty abysmal, and now government has added a bunch more countries and territories to the quarantine list, including Serbia, Albania, Berlin and Paris.

"In January 2021, 287’767 passengers passed through Zurich Airport, corresponding to a decrease of 86.6% compared to last year.

Local passengers decreased by 84.5% to 229’080 in January 2021. The transfer rate is at 19.7% in the month under review (-11.4 percentage points vs. previous year) and transfer passengers decreased by 91.6% to 56’342.
In January 2021, air traffic movements decreased to 5’553 (-73.0% vs. previous year). The average passenger per movement figure decreased to 79.4 (-34.6% vs. previous year). The average seat load factor is at 45.6% (-26.3 percentage points vs. previous year).

In January 2021, a total of 23’685 tonnes of freight were transported at Zurich Airport. This corresponds to a decrease in freight volume of 29.0% compared to last year."

https://www.aviation24.be/airports/zuri ... 2021-86-6/

Serbia will be a pretty big blow for ZRH as in 2019 there were, if I remember correctly, around 450.000 passengers flying between BEG and ZRH. Pretty busy route with decent passenger volume.

Serbia vaccinated close to 11% of its population. I can't understand why they don't allow those who are vaccinated to travel freely.

It remains unclear if vaccinated individuals can potentially still spread the virus or not. There seems to be no definite answer to that question yet, and it also depends on the vaccine administered. In light of different C19 strains, restricting travel remains one of the few options in order to slows the spread. Travel restrictions are unlikely to be lifted in the immediate future.

easyJet Switzerland will launch AYT from GVA twice a week starting 1st of June. Flights bookable

Capricorn wrote:

Blerg wrote:

eurotrader85 wrote:

Pretty abysmal, and now government has added a bunch more countries and territories to the quarantine list, including Serbia, Albania, Berlin and Paris.

"In January 2021, 287’767 passengers passed through Zurich Airport, corresponding to a decrease of 86.6% compared to last year.

Local passengers decreased by 84.5% to 229’080 in January 2021. The transfer rate is at 19.7% in the month under review (-11.4 percentage points vs. previous year) and transfer passengers decreased by 91.6% to 56’342.
In January 2021, air traffic movements decreased to 5’553 (-73.0% vs. previous year). The average passenger per movement figure decreased to 79.4 (-34.6% vs. previous year). The average seat load factor is at 45.6% (-26.3 percentage points vs. previous year).

In January 2021, a total of 23’685 tonnes of freight were transported at Zurich Airport. This corresponds to a decrease in freight volume of 29.0% compared to last year."

https://www.aviation24.be/airports/zuri ... 2021-86-6/

Serbia will be a pretty big blow for ZRH as in 2019 there were, if I remember correctly, around 450.000 passengers flying between BEG and ZRH. Pretty busy route with decent passenger volume.

Serbia vaccinated close to 11% of its population. I can't understand why they don't allow those who are vaccinated to travel freely.

It remains unclear if vaccinated individuals can potentially still spread the virus or not. There seems to be no definite answer to that question yet, and it also depends on the vaccine administered. In light of different C19 strains, restricting travel remains one of the few options in order to slows the spread. Travel restrictions are unlikely to be lifted in the immediate future.

Yes but travel restrictions can only calm the situation a little bit. Once restrictions are removed you are back to square one. Switzerland seems to have a rather schizophrenic policy of adding and removing countries all the time from their red list. This is not sustainable and ca't work long-term.
A solution must be found to balance things out otherwise you risk becoming a new North Korea, cut off from the world.

Fly Bair have put their Bern - Mallorca route on sale (apologies if I'm late at noticing this)
The thing that surprised me, was that flights seem to be operated by Lions Air, a Swiss charter airline who seem to be more geared towards helicopters and general aviation. I would have expected something like Helvetic who are more oriented towards passenger jets to be used instead. Anyone know the story behind this ?
https://www.bernairport.ch/en/destinati ... n?dest=PMI
The aircraft seems to be an E190 - Helvetic fly E190s, but I didn't know Lions Air flew E190s

Separately, it seems that Lugano has lost its last scheduled route and now becomes a zombie airport - Silver Air (the Czech company, not the one in N.America) have cancelled flying from Lugano in summer 2021

Looks like Swiss have extended the GVA cuts to late March 2021, with just 7 weekly flights to FRA and 13 weekly to ZRH until then.

davidjohnson6 wrote:

Fly Bair have put their Bern - Mallorca route on sale (apologies if I'm late at noticing this)
The thing that surprised me, was that flights seem to be operated by Lions Air, a Swiss charter airline who seem to be more geared towards helicopters and general aviation. I would have expected something like Helvetic who are more oriented towards passenger jets to be used instead. Anyone know the story behind this ?
https://www.bernairport.ch/en/destinati ... n?dest=PMI
The aircraft seems to be an E190 - Helvetic fly E190s, but I didn't know Lions Air flew E190s

Very strange - it seems only operating these 2 flights a week and on Saturday is a large gap between arrival and departure in PMI (more than 6hours ground time)...

davidjohnson6 wrote:

Fly Bair have put their Bern - Mallorca route on sale (apologies if I'm late at noticing this)
The thing that surprised me, was that flights seem to be operated by Lions Air, a Swiss charter airline who seem to be more geared towards helicopters and general aviation. I would have expected something like Helvetic who are more oriented towards passenger jets to be used instead. Anyone know the story behind this ?
https://www.bernairport.ch/en/destinati ... n?dest=PMI
The aircraft seems to be an E190 - Helvetic fly E190s, but I didn't know Lions Air flew E190s

Separately, it seems that Lugano has lost its last scheduled route and now becomes a zombie airport - Silver Air (the Czech company, not the one in N.America) have cancelled flying from Lugano in summer 2021

Wasn't German Airways supposed to operate for Fly Bair ? They also have a fleet of 4 E190.

According to air-journal.fr all Flybair flights will be operated by Helvetic E190.

Panagiotis wrote:

Wasn't German Airways supposed to operate for Fly Bair ? They also have a fleet of 4 E190.

German Airways pulled out of the project in last minute, AFAIK based on contractual rights.

I think this is absolutely illegal and against all Swiss consumer rights. Flights are only sold by flight number only - without IATA-code, e.g. "7001" with a small information "Flight Operated by partner airline" without any information given, which partner airline is actually flying...

HBJZA wrote:

According to air-journal.fr all Flybair flights will be operated by Helvetic E190.

I only can find a very old article from 2020 - so please provide a link or source, as we talk about this year operation

You’re right, the article is dated feb20. I have found the below that dates from August 20 and states as well that flights are operated by Helvetic.
https://www.hahnair.com/en/carrier/oaw-x1

debonair wrote:

Very strange - it seems only operating these 2 flights a week and on Saturday is a large gap between arrival and departure in PMI (more than 6hours ground time)...

Guess, this is space reserved for the w-pattern flights to Sion SIR, as they did it in 2020. Planing further ahead doesn't seem to make much sense right now, thus only these two flights scheduled so far.

davidjohnson6 wrote:

Fly Bair have put their Bern - Mallorca route on sale (apologies if I'm late at noticing this)
The thing that surprised me, was that flights seem to be operated by Lions Air, a Swiss charter airline who seem to be more geared towards helicopters and general aviation. I would have expected something like Helvetic who are more oriented towards passenger jets to be used instead. Anyone know the story behind this ?
https://www.bernairport.ch/en/destinati ... n?dest=PMI
The aircraft seems to be an E190 - Helvetic fly E190s, but I didn't know Lions Air flew E190s

Lions Air don't: I still don't know what's the matter behind this strange arrangement to include Lions Air inbetween. Supposedly it was/is some legal stuff, that prohibits FlyBair to charter the planes themselves. Probably related to Brexit, since the wanted to fly to London in winter 20/21 with German Airways/LGW.

davidjohnson6 wrote:

Separately, it seems that Lugano has lost its last scheduled route and now becomes a zombie airport - Silver Air (the Czech company, not the one in N.America) have cancelled flying from Lugano in summer 2021

The only thing they flew anyway was to Elba island. To be honest, LUG should finally close the terminal and focus on general aviation.

Some interesting reports on LX subsidiary Edelweiss today.

And now Edelweiss is considering relying entirely on the Airbus A340. The plan is for the two A330-300s to leave the fleet in the current year, according to an internal letter from the holiday airline that aeroTELEGRAPH has received. However, a definitive decision has not yet been made.

The downsizing of the fleet should only be temporary. "If the market situation improves, Edelweiss will examine renewed growth in the long-haul fleet based on a uniform aircraft type," the spokesman said.

Source (in German): https://www.aerotelegraph.com/nur-noch- ... 30-abgeben

IMO that means once demand picks up, WK will be considering the B787. Even though the A350 gets mentioned in the article as well, I think it would just be too big for WK, as WK already put 315 seats in its A333 and 314 in its A343 respectively. Will be interesting to see if WK goes for a different WB type than LX, or if that means we will see B787s at LX as well.

Also looks like long haul leisure demand will initially not come back strong enough (WK has many contracts with travel agents in Switzerland, so they have a good sense where the market is going).

Air Serbia is going ahead with the GVA launch, first flight is scheduled to depart Belgrade at 07.00 tomorrow.

https://beg.aero/cir/letovi#departures

I was told there are 27 and 35 passengers on the first flight.

I heard some rumor that LX is considering to get rid of it's B77W's given that the capacity will be to large for their needs over the comming years. Assuming this would be the case, I could see the 12 frames to move to LH as a replacement for the A346/B744 and partial substitute of the B779 of which LH has reduced the total number of ordered planes. Instead we would see the B77W's eventually be replaced by dreamliners and or A350's.

Over the past months I also heard that LX wanted to get rid of it's A330's and eventually replace / add new aircraft to the fleet over the next years when deman will require it from the A350 / Drealiner order of LH Group. I guess one of these two scenarios / rumours will eventually be true, let's see what will happen.