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 These older models are nearing 15 to 20 years of service and feature outdated cabins.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.