SWISS takes delivery of its first Bombardier C Series aircraft

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has received the first of the new Bombardier CS100 aircraft for its short- and medium-haul fleet. SWISS is the launching customer and first operator of the newly-developed C Series. The CS100 will make its first SWISScommercial flight on 15 July.

The first of the 30 Bombardier C Series aircraft that SWISS has on order from the Canadian manufacturer arrived in Zurich today at 5:09 pm. After a low pass past the airport’s observation deck, accompanied by the legendary Super Constellation, the aircraft – a CS100 with the registration HB-JBA – landed to a warm reception of a large crowd of aviation fans and further spectators. The first airline delivery of the innovative C Series had flown to Zurich via Dublin from Bombardier’s Mirabel (Montreal) works. The delivery flight was performed by Peter Koch, C Series Fleet Chief and Head of the SWISS C Series Programme. “It was a great honour and a personal thrill for me to fly our first C Series aircraft to Switzerland,” he said. “The reception we were greeted with by the people and our partners was very moving, and will stay with me forever.” Ernst Frei, the commander on the accompanying Super Constellation and a former Boeing 747 captain, was equally enthusiastic. “Having been a pilot with Swissair for 31 years,” he said. “So it was a particular pleasure for me to escort the latest arrival for its successor SWISS to its new Zurich home.”

A world first

SWISS is the launching customer and first operator of the new short- and medium-haul C Series, and has been closely involved in its development from scratch by manufacturer Bombardier. With its state-of-the-art technologies, the C Series sets new benchmarks in terms of its inflight comfort, operating economics and environmental credentials: it consumes up to 25% less fuel and is half as loud to the human ear as comparable aircraft types. SWISS has ordered 30 Bombardier C Series aircraft.

First flight in mid-July

SWISS’s first Bombardier CS100 will perform its first commercial flight on Friday 15 July when it operates flight LX 638 from Zurich to Paris (Charles de Gaulle). Manchester, Prague and Budapest are SWISS’s further first C Series destinations.More visual material is available here and will be constantly updated.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is Switzerland’s national airline, serving over 100 destinations in 43 countries from Zurich and Geneva and carrying some 16.5 million passengers a year with its 91-aircraft fleet. The company’s Swiss WorldCargo division provides a comprehensive range of airport-to-airport airfreight services for high-value and care-intensive consignments to some 130 destinations in over 80 countries. As “The Airline of Switzerland”, SWISS embodies the country’s traditional values, and is committed to delivering the highest product and service quality. With its workforce of over 9,000 personnel, SWISS generated total operating income of some CHF 5 billion in 2016. SWISS is part of the Lufthansa Group, and is also a member of Star Alliance, the world’s biggest airline grouping.