Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has received the first of the new Bombardier CS100 aircraft for its short- and medium-haul fleet. The aircraft arrived in Zurich, and was accompanied for its landing by the Super Constellation. SWISS is the launching customer and first operator of the totally newly-developed C Series. The CS100 will make its first SWISS commercial flight on 15 July.
The first of the 30 Bombardier C Series aircraft that SWISS has on order from the Canadian manufacturer arrived in Zurich today at 17.09. After a low pass past the airport’s observation deck, accompanied by the legendary Super Constellation, the aircraft – a CS100 with the registration HB-JBA – landed to a warm reception of a large crowd of aviation fans and further spectators. The first airline delivery of the innovative C Series had flown to Zurich via Dublin from Bombardier’s Mirabel (Montreal) works. The delivery flight was performed by Peter Koch, C Series Fleet Chief and Head of the SWISS C Series Programme. “It was a great honour and a personal thrill for me to fly our first C Series aircraft to Switzerland,” he said. “The reception we were greeted with by the people and our partners was very moving, and will stay with me forever.” Ernst Frei, the commander on the accompanying Super Constellation and a former Boeing 747 captain, was equally enthusiastic. “Having been a pilot with Swissair for 31 years,” he said. “So it was a particular pleasure for me to escort the latest arrival for its successor SWISS to its new Zurich home.”
A world first
SWISS is the launching customer and first operator of the new short- and medium-haul C Series, and has been closely involved in its development from scratch by manufacturer Bombardier. With its state-of-the-art technologies, the C Series sets new benchmarks in terms of its inflight comfort, operating economics and environmental credentials: it consumes up to 25% less fuel and is half as loud to the human ear as comparable aircraft types. SWISS has ordered 30 Bombardier C Series aircraft.
First flight in mid-July
SWISS’s first Bombardier CS100 will perform its first commercial flight on Friday 15 July when it operates flight LX 638 from Zurich to Paris (Charles de Gaulle). Manchester, Prague and Budapest are SWISS’s further first C Series destinations.
