SWISS Extends Partnership with Helvetic Airways
SWISS has announced a five-year extension of its long-standing partnership with Helvetic Airways, a regional carrier based in Switzerland. This renewed agreement allows Helvetic Airways to operate up to 15 aircraft on behalf of SWISS throughout its European network under a continuing wet-lease arrangement. This partnership strengthens SWISS’s operational capabilities while maintaining high safety and service standards.
Under the terms of the agreement, Helvetic Airways will deploy a mix of aircraft, including the modern Embraer E190-E2 and E195-E2, along with their earlier models, the E190 and E195. These aircraft will serve various short and medium-length routes, ensuring that SWISS can efficiently manage peak operating periods and serve destinations that may not be suitable for larger SWISS aircraft.
Heike Birlenbach, SWISS Chief Commercial Officer, expressed satisfaction with the partnership, stating, “Helvetic Airways fully and consistently meets all our high safety standards and all our premium aspirations and is well-liked by our customers. I’m delighted that we can now extend our successful partnership. Our collaboration not only enables us to cover our operating peaks with Helvetic’s smaller aircraft, but we can also serve destinations for which our own SWISS aircraft would be too big.”
This collaboration has flourished since its inception in 2007, showcasing the reliability and quality that Helvetic Airways brings to the table. Tobias Pogorevc, CEO of Helvetic Airways, highlighted the significance of this extension, stating, “We are proud that the partnership which SWISS and Helvetic Airways have cultivated since 2007 will now be further extended and expanded. This confirms to us that we consistently meet SWISS’s high quality and reliability standards, and that our advanced regional twinjets ideally supplement the SWISS aircraft fleet.”
For the upcoming winter timetable of 2024/25, Helvetic Airways is set to operate up to nine aircraft for SWISS. As demand peaks during the busy summer schedule of 2025, the number of Helvetic aircraft in service is expected to rise to 15. Historically, SWISS and its predecessor, Swissair, have relied on smaller regional airlines, such as Helvetic and the now-defunct Crossair, to operate many of their short-haul and feeder routes.
Founded in 2003, Helvetic Airways started operations with a single Fokker 100 and a few destinations. Its collaboration with SWISS International Airlines began in 2007 after successfully obtaining IOSA certification, which signifies adherence to strict operational safety standards.
In 2011, Helvetic Airways established its in-house maintenance division, Helvetic Airways Maintenance, enhancing its operational flexibility. The airline has invested in modernizing its fleet, including the delivery of the first of 12 new Embraer E2 aircraft in 2019. These aircraft are known for their fuel efficiency and passenger capacity, catering to both wet-lease customers like SWISS and Helvetic’s own operations.
Helvetic Airways recently adjusted its order of Embraer E2 aircraft, opting for four larger E195-E2s, accommodating 120 to 150 passengers. This flexibility enables Helvetic to offer various aircraft sizes and capacities, effectively meeting the demands of its wet-lease agreements.
Currently, Helvetic operates a fleet of 22 Embraer regional jets and serves 11 routes across 10 destinations in six countries under its own brand, further solidifying its role as a vital player in regional aviation within Switzerland and beyond.
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