SWISS wants to reduce reliance on third-party airlines

Swiss International Airlines’ new Chief Commercial Officer Heike Birlenbach wants to reduce the number of leased flights from Helvetic Airways and Air Baltic. This practice, referred to in technical jargon as 'wet leasing', currently accounts for around a third of SWISS summer flights in Europe. "We currently have a large number of wet lease aircraft in service," said the 57-year-old German executive this week at a press meeting at SWISS headquarters in Kloten. The reason for this recourse to other airlines is due to engine problems of the manufacturer Pratt & Whitney. In practice, because of this glitch, some Swiss aircraft cannot be operated as planned, explained Birlenbach. "Without wet lease we would be forced to cut several continental routes. This would also have consequences for intercontinental traffic," said Birlenbach who joined at the beginning of the year. Network stability and quality remain top priority for Swiss, she emphasised. Among customers Helvetic Airways and ...