Changi Airport welcomes the return of SWISS

SINGAPORE, 13 May 2013 – Changi Airport Group (CAG) is pleased to announce the return of SWISS to Singapore Changi Airport today.  The Switzerland flag-carrier will operate daily Zurich-Singapore services ultilising the 219-seat Airbus A340-300 aircraft in a three-class configuration[1].

Featuring an end of day departure out of Changi and Zurich airports, SWISS’ flight schedule is ideally timed to meet the needs of business and leisure travellers.  Apart from the opportunity to maximise their day in the city, travellers can also connect easily to and from 35 European cities in SWISS’ network and 87 destinations in Southeast-Asia and Southwest-Pacific from Changi Airport.  Time-sensitive business travellers will also benefit from SWISS’ early morning arrival into Zurich.

SWISS’ flight schedule is as follows:

SWISS Chief Executive Officer, Mr Harry Hohmeister, said, “With our daily non-stop service between Singapore and Switzerland, we want to meet the growing travel needs of both business and leisure travellers between our countries.  In addition, our double-night service perfectly complements our Star Alliance partners’ offering and we are delighted to now bring the best of service, products and hospitality from Switzerland to Singapore.”

After a four-year hiatus, the return of SWISS at Changi Airport is a result of the close collaboration between CAG and the airline, together with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore.  Over the past six months, CAG has also jointly organised campaigns and marketing activities in Geneva and Zurich with SWISS and the Singapore Tourism Board to promote the carrier’s new Singapore service. 

Mr Lee Seow Hiang, CAG’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “SWISS has been fondly missed by the Changi Airport community as well as many of its loyal customers since its last flight to Changi in April 2009.  We are extremely delighted by its return, especially with SWISS’ direct non-stop service offering both business and leisure travellers a differentiated product and unique SWISS experience on board the flight.

“Europe is an important market for Changi Airport.  Passenger traffic[2] between Europe and Singapore has grown steadily over the years, increasing at a compounded annual rate of 6% since 2006.  For the 12 months ending February 2013, some 2.6 million passengers travelled between Singapore and Europe, up 8% year-on-year.  With the return of SWISS, travellers now have greater access into the heart of Europe from Changi.”

The commencement of SWISS’ operations in Singapore will boost Changi Airport’s connectivity to Europe.  Together with Singapore Airlines’ increase in frequency to Moscow later this month, Changi Airport will be connected to 14 major European cities[3] via more than 300 weekly flights and 52,000 weekly one-way seats.

With the Swiss population in Singapore being the largest in an Asian city, the arrival of the country’s flag-carrier has been warmly received by the Swiss community.  His Excellency Thomas Kupfer, Ambassador of Switzerland to Singapore, said, "The arrival of Swiss International Air Lines at Changi Airport is welcome news for the Swiss community, which is made up of more than 300 companies and 4,000 individuals, here in Singapore.  Apart from an increase in overall seat capacity, SWISS’ new service will also provide passengers with more options when travelling between Switzerland and Singapore. 

“The introduction of SWISS services will pave the way for deeper cooperation on the trade front with Singapore already one of Switzerland’s top trading partners in Asia.  On behalf of the Swiss community here in Singapore, we would like to thank CAG and SWISS for making the new flight a reality.”

[1] First, business and economy classes 

[2] Origin-destination traffic 

[3] Amsterdam, Barcelona, Copenhagen, Moscow, Rome, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Istanbul, London, Manchester, Munich, Milan, Paris and Zurich.