Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) ushered in a new chapter of its fleet modernisation programme on 25 October 2025 as its first Airbus A350-900 (tail number HB-IFA, “Lausanne”) carried 233 fare-paying passengers from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca. The 07:11 LX2152 departure was the aircraft’s inaugural revenue service and the first public showcase of the carrier’s “SWISS Senses” long-haul cabin concept.
According to Chief Operating Officer Oliver Buchhofer, introducing an all-new aircraft type required months of cross-departmental preparation in engineering, flight operations, cabin crew training and ground handling. The initial weeks will see the A350 rostered on short-haul European routes—Prague, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Málaga and Palma—so pilots can complete multiple take-off-and-landing cycles quickly before long-haul certification. Passengers booked in Economy or Business will experience the full long-haul seat, while Premium Economy will be sold as extra-legroom Economy during the familiarisation phase; First Class will only open once intercontinental flying begins.
From 20 November, HB-IFA is scheduled to operate Zurich–Boston, the first of a sequence of long-haul deployments that will gradually replace older A340s. SWISS is investing roughly CHF 1 billion annually in product and sustainability upgrades. The A350 burns about 25 % less fuel than the four-engine A340 and is certified to be twice as quiet, reducing the airline’s per-seat carbon footprint and noise contour around Zurich Airport.
Nine additional A350s will arrive between now and 2031, forming the backbone of SWISS’s wide-body fleet. For corporate travel managers, the rollout promises improved schedule reliability—thanks to better dispatch performance—and an enhanced onboard experience designed around privacy, productivity and connectivity. Lower fuel burn will also help companies pursuing Scope 3 emissions targets attached to employee travel.
In parallel with fleet renewal, SWISS continues to expand rail–air integration with SBB and refine its winter network, underscoring the carrier’s strategy to compete on product quality while meeting Switzerland’s climate objectives.
According to Chief Operating Officer Oliver Buchhofer, introducing an all-new aircraft type required months of cross-departmental preparation in engineering, flight operations, cabin crew training and ground handling. The initial weeks will see the A350 rostered on short-haul European routes—Prague, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Málaga and Palma—so pilots can complete multiple take-off-and-landing cycles quickly before long-haul certification. Passengers booked in Economy or Business will experience the full long-haul seat, while Premium Economy will be sold as extra-legroom Economy during the familiarisation phase; First Class will only open once intercontinental flying begins.
From 20 November, HB-IFA is scheduled to operate Zurich–Boston, the first of a sequence of long-haul deployments that will gradually replace older A340s. SWISS is investing roughly CHF 1 billion annually in product and sustainability upgrades. The A350 burns about 25 % less fuel than the four-engine A340 and is certified to be twice as quiet, reducing the airline’s per-seat carbon footprint and noise contour around Zurich Airport.
Nine additional A350s will arrive between now and 2031, forming the backbone of SWISS’s wide-body fleet. For corporate travel managers, the rollout promises improved schedule reliability—thanks to better dispatch performance—and an enhanced onboard experience designed around privacy, productivity and connectivity. Lower fuel burn will also help companies pursuing Scope 3 emissions targets attached to employee travel.
In parallel with fleet renewal, SWISS continues to expand rail–air integration with SBB and refine its winter network, underscoring the carrier’s strategy to compete on product quality while meeting Switzerland’s climate objectives.
