SWISS Soccer Trams launch in Zurich, Basel & Geneva

SWISS is taking to the rails: Switzerland’s national airline has put three special “SWISS Soccer Trams” onto the streetcar networks in Zurich, Basel and Geneva in the run-up to the 2008 European football championships, which will be held in Switzerland and Austria this summer.

All three trams feature a unique and striking design – thanks largely to the involvement and enthusiasm of the company’s personnel.

SWISS, the “Airline For All Fans” for the 2008 European football championships, has come up with a novel idea to publicise the event. Three trams on the Zurich, Basel and Geneva streetcar systems have been given a new livery showing jubilant fans from participating countries. The photos used feature SWISS employees who dressed up in the colours of their national teams and posed for the cameras. The “SWISS Soccer Trams” will be in regular public service from mid-January until the end of the tournament.

“We’re convinced that our trams will help the people of these tree key SWISS cities get into the mood for this exciting event,” says Chief Network & Distribution Officer Harry Hohmeister.

SWISS has already had its “Flying Fanclub” – an Airbus A320 decked out in a special “Come on Switzerland!” livery – in service on its European network since December. And in June the airline will be bringing soccer fans from all over Europe to the continent’s biggest sporting event this year: SWISS serves all the countries that have qualified for the final rounds of the 2008 competition.

The Geneva SWISS Soccer Tram took to the streets yesterday, January 14, while the Zurich and Basel trams made their début today. The Zurich tram was formally welcomed to the city’s network by mayor Elmar Ledergerber, while the Basel honours were performed by Government Councillor Ralph Lewin.

The Zurich tram has an extra surprise in store, too. Passengers will sit in aircraft seats as they travel through the city; and they’ll also be offered the SWISS Magazine, the airline’s inflight publication, which includes a wealth of insights into the company and its destinations.

The SWISS Soccer Trams will be in service as follows:

In Zurich: on the No. 3 route (Albisrieden-Klusplatz), from January 15.
In Basel: on the No. 15 route (Bruderholz-Messeplatz), from January 15.
In Geneva: on various routes, from January 14.

Find out more at Swiss.com.