Across Time Zones: New Year's Eve with the Crew

Welcoming the New Year is a moment celebrated around the world. But how do our crews spend this special moment high above the clouds, during a layover and shortly after landing in Zurich? Two of our crew members have given us an insight into their very personal way of celebrating New Year's Eve.

ZRH – HKG: Inflight Celebration
"On our New Year's Eve flight to Hong Kong, we passed Budapest at the turn of the year. We saw the SWISS plane in front of us heading for Singapore. My workplace was in First Class. Despite the ongoing service, we took a moment to toast the New Year with the pilots and our First Class guests. We crew members chose non-alcoholic sparkling wine, of course, while some of the guests welcomed 2024 with champagne or red wine. The flight was smooth and enjoyable.
In vibrant Hong Kong, the crew then scattered in all directions. Some joined us for an aperitif, others preferred to go straight to bed. I went to my favorite Indian restaurant with a work colleague to eat a delicious "Chicken Tikka Lababdar" - a spicy dish as a brilliant start to the new year!"

Claudia von Känel has been a cabin crew member since March 1989.

Party decorations on the table in the briefing room.
The briefing room has been transformed with festive decorations to get the crew in the celebrative mood.
Non-alcoholic sparkling wine with glasses.
In addition to champagne, the crew toasted the new year with non-alcoholic sparkling wine.
Sunrise in Hong Kong.
A sunrise welcomed the New Year in Hong Kong.

NRT – ZRH: Back in Zürich
"On 27 December we left ZRH and headed east to Narita. Three nights in Japan and the whole crew had a lot of plans and a full itinerary. After arriving at the crew hotel, most of them continued on to their destinations in the Land of the Rising Sun. On 31 December, everyone was fit and ready for the return flight. As the flight route led east to Alaska, over the North Pole and back to Europe, we flew once around the world in this rotation. A first for me! After 14 hours and 20 minutes, we landed on time in Zurich at 18:30 on 31 December. The crew and passengers were all back in Switzerland in time to celebrate New Year's Eve."

Marco Lustenberger has been a cabin crew member since October 2015.

Landmark of Tokyo.
To end the year on a high note, the crews went on a discovery tour of Tokyo.
You can see the northern lights from the window.
Saying goodbye to the year with a view of the Northern Lights.
Marco infront of the aircraft.
Marco has been a dedicated flight attendant on SWISS flights for almost nine years.

Text and Images: Claudia von Känel and Marco Lustenberger
Published on 05.01.2024