SWISS starts new Zurich-San Francisco service

SWISS’s first-ever non-stop scheduled flight to San Francisco departed from Zurich earlier this month (July 2). San Francisco is SWISS’s seventh North American destination.

The aircraft – one of the carrier’s Airbus A340s – had been specially painted for the occasion in a “flower power” design.

Chairman of the Board Rolf P. Jetzer personally inaugurated the new service at Zurich Airport prior to departure, together with CEO Harry Hohmeister and with various further invitees and representatives in attendance from the business and political worlds.

SWISS inaugurated its new six-times-weekly non-stop service between Zurich and San Francisco today. The destination – SWISS’s seventh in North America – will be served using Airbus A340 equipment.

“In introducing our new Zurich-San Francisco flights, we are further expanding our services to and from the USA, the most important market in our intercontinental business,” said SWISS CEO Harry Hohmeister.

“San Francisco has North America’s fourth-biggest volume of intercontinental air travellers,” he continued. “The bookings we have received to date are exceeding our expectations. And I’m convinced that our new service will be a success.”

“This is the fulfilment of a long-held desire,” added SWISS Chairman of the Board Rolf P. Jetzer, who formally opened the new route at its Zurich departure gate.

“We now fly to San Francisco, further substantially enhancing the attractiveness of our US network. And we are delighted all the more that our first Airbus A340 has been equipped with its new Business Class in time for this first flight. I’m proud of the entire SWISS team whose work and dedication have made all this happen.” From mid-2011, all SWISS long-haul destinations should be served with aircraft equipped with the new Business Class cabin.

San Francisco continues to gain in importance as a business and industry location. After New York and Los Angeles, the city and its surrounding Bay Area are the US’s third-biggest market, and are home to numerous branch operations of major Swiss-based companies. Several large US corporations based in the Bay Area have also chosen Switzerland as the location of their European regional headquarters. San Francisco further offers such world-renowned sights as the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf, and still retains its powerful appeal for individuals and free thinkers from all over the world.