SWISS prepares for long-haul future with Airbus A350 acquisition

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SWISS prepares for long-haul future with Airbus A350 acquisition

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Jens Fehlinger Chief Executive Officer | SWISS International Air Lines Website

By Sky Industry News

Feb 14, 2025

Airbus has unveiled the first images of SWISS International Air Lines' initial Airbus A350-900, currently in production in Toulouse. This development marks a significant step for SWISS, which has ten A350-900 aircraft on order from Airbus, with the first delivery expected in summer 2025. The first aircraft will carry the manufacturer serial number 737 and be registered as HB-IFA.

SWISS's long-haul fleet, which primarily consists of aging A330-300 and A340-300 aircraft, is set to receive a boost with the introduction of the A350. These older models are nearing 15 to 20 years of service and feature outdated cabins. The new A350s are intended to replace all four SWISS A340-300 aircraft and about half of the airline's A330 fleet.

Despite having a fleet of 12 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft delivered in 2018, this is insufficient for SWISS's more than 20 long-haul destinations. The addition of the A350 aims to address this gap.

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The new aircraft promises environmental benefits by producing approximately "25% fewer carbon dioxide emissions compared to its predecessor types," according to SWISS. It also boasts fuel efficiency, using "as little as 2.5 liters (~0.6 gallons) of kerosene per 100 passenger kilometers." Its range extends up to "15,000 kilometers (~9320 miles)," enabling it to reach any destination within SWISS's network.

Head of SWISS Corporate Communications Léa Wertheimer highlighted this capability on LinkedIn: "...enough to fly from Toulouse to the South Pole non-stop..."

SWISS announced its seating configuration for the A350s in November 2023. The layout includes economy, premium economy, business, and first-class sections within a "very loose" arrangement accommodating 242 passengers. Only one-third of cabin space will be allocated to economy class with 156 seats, while premium economy will have 38 seats—the largest premium economy section in SWISS's fleet.

The business class section will feature a "Swiss Senses" cabin layout with three "first class" seats configured as fully private suites at the front of the business class cabin.