Hofmann's recommendations

The challenge of maintaining a high level

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In an exclusive Connoisseur Circle interview, Swiss International CCO Markus Binkert explains the efforts required to offer passengers a good infrastructure.

Mr. Binkert, SWISS has opened two new lounges. How important is a modern ground infrastructure in a competitive environment? Is the quality of the infrastructure at Zurich Airport increasingly decisive for passengers' travel plans?

Binkert: As a premium carrier, a high-quality product is very important to us, both in the air and on the ground. Passengers' decision as to which airport they fly through is linked to the overall travel experience. With its short distances and clear, modern infrastructure, Zurich Airport makes a decisive contribution to a good travel experience. It is important to us that our passengers can reach our lounges in the shortest possible time so that they can work, relax or indulge in culinary delights in peace and quiet. The ground product is also becoming increasingly important for passengers on short-haul flights. I am therefore delighted that the modernized Lounge Center A is now open again.

SWISS owner Lufthansa says that it is expensive to operate the Zurich hub because the difficult conditions with overlapping runways make it very difficult to ensure punctuality.

Low punctuality is not just an issue in Zurich. The entire European airline industry is struggling with capacity problems. Demand is very high, but airports and air traffic areas are already operating at full capacity. In addition, there are strikes and staff shortages at European air traffic control as well as exceptional weather conditions. As a result, the entire system is quickly reaching its limits.

SWISS is successful. How difficult is it to maintain this high level?

This is a challenge that we are happy to take on. We are very grateful that our success has been rewarded by the Lufthansa Group with further investments in modern aircraft. We already have 23 Bombardier C Series aircraft in our fleet and are expecting up to five more this year. Another two Boeing 777s will enter scheduled service at the beginning of 2020, and we are also modernizing the five Airbus 340-300s to bring them up to the high standard of the Triple 7 in terms of comfort. With the recently modernized SWISS Business and Senator Lounges in Terminal A, we have a consistent, high-quality ground product. All these investments will benefit our passengers. We are convinced that we will be able to maintain this very high level in the future.

It is said that more and more passengers prefer to fly to smaller airports such as Zurich or Vienna. Have you noticed this too?

We are noticing that many passengers are flying to their destination via Zurich with SWISS. It's not for nothing that Zurich Airport was once again named the best airport in Europe. The good and close cooperation between the airport and us as a hub carrier enables us to offer a high-quality service.

But capacity is also becoming tight in Zurich and there is still room for future growth...

We are already reaching the limit at peak times. Growth in line with demand is not possible in the medium term. If the infrastructure remains as it is, growth will inevitably take place elsewhere in Europe. To make matters worse, Zurich is one of the most restrictive airports of its size in Europe. To ensure that Switzerland can continue to keep pace with global competition, flight operations must not be restricted any further and growth prospects for tomorrow must be created today.