Swiss International Air Lines Plans Zurich-San Francisco Service

Swiss International Air Lines is launching six-times-weekly service between San Francisco and Zurich on June 2, 2010.

The new service will be operated by Airbus 340-300s complete with Swiss International’s new SWISS First and SWISS Business cabins, as well as a more comfortable, new SWISS Economy cabin.

The schedule will see flight LX38 depart Zurich Airport (ZRH) at 1:15 p.m. and reach San Francisco International Airport (SFO) at 4:30 p.m. The return flight, LX39, will leave SFO at 7:25 p.m. and arrive at ZRH at 3:40 p.m. the following day.

Swiss International Air Lines' long-haul fleet includes Airbus A340-300s (one is shown here), A330-300s and A330-200s. The carrier also operates a fleet of A321s, A320s, A319s and Avro RJ100s on short- and medium-haul routes

Swiss International Air Lines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group, says rigorous cost management and focused endeavours to enhance efficiency, make it one of the few air carriers able to expand its network in 2010. With San Francisco growing steadily in importance for Swiss-based companies, the new service will enhance Switzerland’s appeal as a business location, according to Swiss International.

“By adding San Francisco to our network, we are meeting a strong demand that we have heard and felt from many major companies and large numbers of leisure-travel customers,” said Harry Hohmeister, CEO of Swiss Intenrational. “Actions like this show just how much drive and dynamism a healthy and competitive SWISS can provide for Switzerland, as a place to do business and as a tourist destination.”

The airline’s new in-flight service products are SWISS First, SWISS Business and SWISS Economy. The new SWISS Business offers passengers air seat-cushions that can be individually adjusted for comfort levels. The new seat is fully reclinable, with a seat pitch of 45 inches, a seat length of 79 inches and a seat width of 20.5 inches.

San Francisco will be the eighth gateway served by Swiss International in North America. The airline already serves Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York JFK, Newark and Montréal from Zurich.

Swiss International Air Lines is the national carrier of Switzerland and flies to 76 destinations in 40 countries. For more information and to book a flight, click onto www.swiss.com or call 1-877-FLY SWISS. Swiss International is a member of the Star Alliance, the first global airline alliance, established in 1997.