Hofmann's recommendations

Hoffmann takes off: SWISS CEO Thomas Klühr

700394

700394

700394

700394

700394

In 2018, the Swiss Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines achieved a new record profit of CHF 636 million. The airline's annual turnover rose by 7.1% to CHF 5.3 billion during this period. We spoke to SWISS CEO Thomas Klühr in Zurich about these and other positive developments.

Mr. Klühr, how do you explain the extremely successful financial result for 2018?

The growth in revenue was achieved by increasing traffic volumes, but also by investing in fuel-efficient aircraft. We have invested around eight billion francs in a modern fleet, which is now paying off. In 2018, we expanded the fleet with two Boeing 777-300ERs and 13 Bombardier C Series. We now operate one of the youngest fleets in Europe. SWISS also carried 17.9 million passengers last year. That is an increase of 6.2% on the previous year and an absolute record for us. And the load factor also rose by one percentage point to 83.4%, even though we operated larger aircraft.

SWISS now also wants to introduce a Premium Economy Class. You took a long time to do this ...

We did not take this decision lightly and first waited for the experiences of the other Group airlines. Now is the right time to introduce a premium economy class at SWISS, because it works well at Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa. From spring 2021, the Premium Economy class will initially be available on the 777-300ER. Later, the entire long-haul fleet will be equipped with it.

Lufthansa has ordered 20 additional Airbus A350-900s and 20 Boeing 787-9s for the entire Group. Based on your success, you can probably choose which aircraft would suit you ...

Both types would be suitable for SWISS. The decision as to which Lufthansa Group airline will receive which aircraft type will be made at a later date. The allocation to the airlines will take place approximately two years before delivery.

Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr believes that lessons can be learned from the coordination between sister airlines Edelweiss Air and SWISS ...

We are indeed well organized in Zurich, starting with the clear positioning and the optimally coordinated route network through to very well orchestrated processes. However, Lufthansa cannot adopt everything 1:1, the Swiss market is too unique for that, but some elements are certainly very exciting for them.

(c) SWISS