A tenth Boeing 777-300ER for SWISS
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) took delivery of its 10th and final Boeing 777-300ER at the Boeing Everett Delivery Center on March 12, 2018.
"The delivery took place about two months earlier than planned. The SWISS 777 fleet has achieved a 99% reliability rate so far, and the goal is to achieve 99.5% this year," Beat Locher, Head of Asset Management at SWISS, told Connoisseur Circle.
Now the 777 is no longer an unusual aircraft and the one SWISS is getting was the 1545th of this type to be built. But the Swiss airline ordered the first six 777s in spring 2013, followed by others in September 2014 and September 2015. The first aircraft was delivered on January 29, 2016. Integrating ten wide-body jets in just over two years is an enormous challenge for any airline.
SWISS operates the 777 fleet with 340 seats, in a three-class layout and can carry up to 25 tons of cargo. SWISS A340-300 offers 219 seats and 14-17 tons of cargo capacity. The A340 fleet will be partially replaced by 777s. "The 777 offers 19% lower unit costs with 40 to 50% more seats (compared to the A340-300), but 15% higher travel costs, which presents the challenge of filling the additional seats," Locher said.
With the final 777 delivery, the SWISS long-haul fleet now comprises 14 Airbus A330-300s, five A340-300s and ten 777s.
SWISS expects an aircraft to be in service for about 20 years, including two major maintenance overhauls. The A330 will be in service until at least 2025, while the remaining five A340-300s are expected to remain in service until 2023-2025.
In any case, SWISS is delighted with its tenth Boeing 777. And during the delivery flight from the Boeing plant in Everett to Zurich, on which Connoisseur Circle was on board, the Swiss Air Force did not miss the opportunity to personally welcome the flagship in the air over the Swiss Alps.
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