Edelweiss Air

Edelweiss Air is a Swiss airline based in Kloten and based on the Zurich airport. It is part of Deutsche Lufthansa AG and thus the sister company Swiss. It connects Switzerland with international holiday destinations and annually transports approximately 1.3 million passengers.

History

The airline was founded in Zurich by the travel group Kuoni and the Greek Venus Air ( the parent company of Venus Airlines) on 19 October 1995. As of February 10, 1996, the first simple Flights Edelweiss Air McDonnell Douglas MD with two -83, at that time a very popular pattern for charter flights in the short and medium-haul routes. In spring 1997, Edelweiss Air bought another MD -83.

End of the 1990s to Edelweiss Air decided to build a fleet of Airbus aircraft and took on 4 February 2000 the first of the first three Airbus A320 -200. End of November 2000 was an Airbus A330 -200 added for long-haul flights. The termination and renegotiation of the lease for this A330 in 2004 misled the media to speculate that Edelweiss Air wanted to leave the plane.

On 8 February 2008, the takeover of the company was announced by Swiss, which was held as part of a strategic partnership between the previous owner and Swiss Kuoni. The airline will continue to operate with its own management, fleet and crew, as well as the « Edelweiss Air ' brand is maintained.

In September 2013, the introduction of a new business class with fully flat beds as well as the first time a Premium Economy Class on long-haul fleet was announced.

Destinations

Edelweiss Air flies from Zurich to many European and intercontinental destinations. Today they served it to over 50 destinations in some 30 countries. Portugal with Faro and Madeira and Djerba, Agadir and Marrakech are on the short and medium haul it with Airbus A320 -200 holiday destinations in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, served in North Africa. Objectives of long-haul flights with Airbus A330, the Caribbean Varadero, Punta Cana and Havana, Cancun, Tampa Bay, Florida, Las Vegas, Vancouver, Mauritius, Cape Town, Maldives and Phuket.

Fleet

As of August 2013 the fleet of Edelweiss Air from seven aircraft is with a mean age of 11.5 years:

• 4 Airbus A320 -200 with 168 seats ( one leased from Swiss)
• 1 Airbus A330 -200 with 285 seats
• 2 Airbus A330 -300 with 236/332 seats ( leased from Swiss, 1 operated for Swiss)

Trivia

• The aircraft of the Edelweiss Air is since its inception a red / white livery with Edelweiss flowers as a symbol for the Swiss origin of society.