Swiss Cancels 1,400 Flights Over Pilot, Aircraft Shortages

Swiss International Air Lines is cancelling 1,400 flights—approximately 1.5% of its scheduled departures—for the 2025 summer season due to a shortage of pilots and available aircraft. The cancellations affect both short- and medium-haul routes as well as long-haul destinations such as Shanghai Pudong and Chicago O’Hare, and will remain in effect through October.

The airline attributed the disruption to several factors, including a new collective labor agreement that reduced pilot working hours, as well as a spike in sick leave and parental leave. Additionally, pilot availability has been impacted by training programs for the upcoming Airbus A350-900 fleet.

To address the shortage, Swiss has encouraged older pilots to delay retirement and has asked part-time pilots to increase their working hours. It has also launched a voluntary vacation buyback scheme and plans to expand its training program from 80 to 110 new pilots annually.

Swiss is also facing ongoing technical issues with its Airbus A220 fleet due to problems with Pratt & Whitney engines. As of now, two A220-100s and five A220-300s are inactive, though it is unclear how many are grounded for engine-related issues.

Attempts to secure additional crew support from parent company Lufthansa were unsuccessful, as the German carrier is also facing staffing constraints. Swiss considered but ultimately decided against using wet-leased capacity from other carriers.

The airline operates a fleet of 93 aircraft and wet leases additional aircraft from airBaltic and Helvetic Airways to support its network. Planning adjustments are underway to prevent future disruptions.

Related News: https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com