SWISS will be adding eight new destinations to its Geneva-based network with the 2015 summer schedules. The additions will bring SWISS’s Geneva network to 39 non-stop destinations.

SWISS continues to develop its product and services for Western Switzerland under its “Next-Generation Airline of Switzerland” strategy. Its latest growth plans for Geneva here are in addition to last month’s announcement of a substantial expansion of its Zurich-based network and a 50% increase in seat capacity on the Lugano-Zurich route following the transfer of its operation to sister Lufthansa Group carrier Austrian Airlines.

Attractive new destinations

With the cutover to the 2015 summer schedules, SWISS will add eight new destinations to its current Geneva-based network. Florence (with four weekly frequencies), Sarajevo (with two weekly flights), Valencia (with two weekly services) and Skopje (with two weekly flights) will be served all year round; and Palermo, Calvi, Thessaloniki and Zakynthos will receive new seasonal service in the summer months.

“These new routes are further confirmation of our consistent investment in Switzerland’s francophone region,” says Lorenzo Stoll, SWISS’s Head of Western Switzerland. “And our expanded range of services to sunshine destinations is a direct response to our customers’ needs and expectations.”

Helping Geneva grow

The new points will bring SWISS’s Geneva-based network to 39 destinations, compared to just 12 two years ago. So SWISS has more than tripled its range of non-stop air services over the past two years for the people of Western Switzerland and adjacent parts of France and for the local business and tourism sectors.

“SWISS’s actions here are very good news for us,” adds Robert Deillon, Director of Geneva Airport. “These new destinations include a prudent expansion of Geneva’s network in the Balkans, which are not particularly well served at present. And the new routes to Greece and Italy are a clear response to a demand from tourist travellers for two still-vital markets.”

Combined with the new 16-times-weekly Geneva-Lugano route, which was unveiled last month, the eight new destinations will further enhance the attractiveness of SWISS’s Geneva-based network. At the same time, they will further cement SWISS’s role as a major provider of air services to and from Geneva.

The new flights can be booked with immediate effect on swiss.com for as little as CHF 39 one-way (under the Geneva Economy Light fare terms and conditions).

SWISS from 19DEC14 is adding new service to Italy, with daily operation on Zurich – Milan Linate route. This route is operated by Avro RJ100 aircraft.

LX1642 ZRH1400 – 1500LIN AR1 D
LX1643 LIN1530 – 1625ZRH AR1 x367
LX1643 LIN1540 – 1640ZRH AR1 367

SWISS will additionally serve Milan’s more central Linate Airport from Zurich from 19 December onwards. The new route will initially be operated once daily with Avro RJ100 equipment in the 2014/15 winter timetable period. SWISS will continue to operate its present five daily services unchanged between Zurich and Milan Malpensa Airport.

Linate is Milan’s second-biggest airport (after Malpensa) and the third-biggest in Italy. The airport is located conveniently close to the city centre, making it ideal for business and tourist travellers alike. With its public transport services, visitors arriving at Linate can be in downtown Milan in just 20 minutes.

The new Zurich-Milan Linate service is bookable as of now. The flying time is about one hour.

Schedule (all times local):

Zurich-Milan Linate LX 1642 14:00 – 15:00h
Milan Linate-Zurich LX 164315:30 – 16:25h or 15:40 – 16:40h

SWISS in Summer 2015 season is adjusting operational aircraft on Zurich – New York JFK and Zurich – Newark route, which sees SWISS A330-300 aircraft operating on all flights, starting 29MAR15.

Currently 6 of 14 weekly Zurich – New York JFK and 1 of 7 weekly Zurich – Newark service is operated by Edelweiss Air A330-300.

Zurich – New York JFK
LX016 ZRH0950 – 1235JFK 333 D
LX014 ZRH1300 – 1550JFK 333 D

LX017 JFK1810 – 0800+1ZRH 333 D
LX015 JFK2100 – 1050+1ZRH 333 D

Zurich – Newark
LX018 ZRH1720 – 2010EWR 333 D
LX019 EWR2150 – 1135+1ZRH 333 D

Darwin has meanwhile lodged a complaint against Swiss (LX, Zurich) with the Swiss competition commission WEKO. Darwin's CEO Maurizio Merlo has told Reuters that Swiss would use "predatory measures which are clearly adopted as an attempt to weaken and damage Darwin." According to the regional carrier, Swiss no longer accepts Darwin passengers during flight disruptions and is proactively launching new routes such as Geneva to Lugano or Zurich to Dresden in competition with Darwin.