Airlines India, Indian Airlines

A senior airline official has announced the completion of the merger of Saudi-based operations of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and Lufthansa German Airlines, which will offer uniform price for tickets and choice of flights besides destination options to thousands of passengers flying on these two airlines. Rolf Koller, general manager for both airlines in the Kingdom, made this announcement here yesterday.

“Passengers traveling on either airline from Saudi Arabia can benefit from a single price structure which will help travelers to journey one way on SWISS and return on Lufthansa or vice versa,” said Koller. Additionally, passengers can enjoy a choice of six flights a week, between both Riyadh and Jeddah. SWISS, he said, would introduce its fourth frequency on Dec. 2, which would ensure that there will be a flight every day in a week.

He said that the two airlines together operated 12 flights a week from the Kingdom to Frankfurt and Zurich. “And now with the merger, it is part of our commitment to the Kingdom to ensure that through SWISS’ and Lufthansa’s combined network we provide choice for each day of the week,” said SWISS-Lufthansa chief, adding that the two airlines had completed integration procedures in the Kingdom.

Referring to the merger, he said that the sales and marketing functions of the two airlines had been merged fully and a centralized office had been set up to operate. Koller further said: “With our new one-company focus, sales and marketing operations and airport services will function from our combined offices in both Riyadh and Jeddah.” The 50-men strong team in the Kingdom will be able to optimize services for both airlines more conveniently, he said.

The Riyadh office will be based in the Olaya district, while the Jeddah office has moved to the Al-Sharafeyah district of the city. Koller will sit in the airlines country office based in Riyadh, while Abdulaziz Mangera, the regional manager for the Western Province, will also be responsible for the port city of Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah. The move to operate jointly following the merger will provide added benefits and competence to the two airlines, said Koller.

About benefits to customers, he said: “The partnership between SWISS and Lufthansa is a natural one, ideally complementing two high quality carriers, an amalgamation of professionalism and a high performance pairing that offers our customers optimum flexibility and reliability for their air travel needs. It reflects the consolidation processes in the present aviation industry.”

He said that the SWISS network was not limited to travel to Switzerland; rather it offered a comprehensive network of 71 destinations in 42 countries, through its summer timetable.

“In addition, the partnership with Lufthansa affords SWISS travelers the option of additional destinations across Lufthansa’s 181-strong destination network, covering 76 countries” said General Manager Koller.

He said that a single airfare, combined check-in facilities, joint frequent flyer program; through Miles & More, and optimum hub connections via Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich, made both airlines an indomitable force for visitors to Europe.

SWISS has also joined Star Alliance, the world’s largest and most comprehensive airline grouping. Star Alliance extends to 842 destinations in 122 countries, offering reciprocal access for SWISS Miles & More members across 660 lounges, as well as accrual and redemption of frequent flyer points. This is in addition to many other programs and incentives for customers on which the two airlines are now jointly working.

SWISS’s Embraer 145 era comes to an end today with the completion of the type’s last rotation, flights LX 1664/1665 between Zurich and Venice. The 50-seater aircraft has been in SWISS service for over six years. Following its withdrawal, the company will operate an all-Avro RJ85/100 fleet on its short-haul services.

SWISS put its first Embraer 145 into revenue service in spring 2000. The last of the 25 aircraft which made up the SWISS Embraer 145 fleet at its maximum extent was delivered just two years later, in April 2002.

With the changes experienced in the European air transport sector over the past few years, the Embraer 145 has been only partially able to meet operating requirements, in view of its limited seat capacity. As a result, SWISS decided last summer to standardise its short-haul operations on an all-Avro RJ85/100 aircraft fleet.

In addition to its elegant lines, its long range and its high speed are the hallmarks of the Embraer 145, permitting it to be flexibly deployed throughout the SWISS short-haul network and operated non-stop on routes as lengthy as Geneva-Helsinki or Basel-Seville. Over the years, it has proved to be a sound and reliable aircraft that is popular with crews and passengers alike.

In all their years of service, SWISS’s Embraer 145s have carried a total of 5 196 905 passengers, flown 123.5 million kilometres and completed 184 050 takeoffs and landings.

Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss) is offering new summer deals in the Economy class.

Passengers can choose from 27 European destinations for only Dh2,300 ($629.2) per person.

Up till August 15, passengers can avail of this special offer from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, flying on either Swiss or Lufthansa.

Travellers can choose from Budapest, Barcelona, Geneva, London, Milan, Munich, Nice, Paris, Prague, Stockholm, Vienna and many more, flying via Zurich or Frankfurt on Swiss’s and Lufthansa’s daily non-stop services.

Passengers can travel outbound anytime between now and August 31, during the busy summer months, for a minimum of five days with a maximum stay of 60 days. In addition, Star Alliance members travelling with Swiss will be able to enjoy all their usual benefits even under these special fare conditions.

Felix Rodel, area manager Middle East and Africa said: “There are a lot of people who book last minute vacations here in the UAE, and these special offers are designed to help them decide where they would like to travel, even if it’s only for a few days. With Lufthansa partnering with us we are able to offer more frequencies and a better range of destinations to choose from.”

New Delhi, India (AHN) - Jet Airways and SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines) have entered a pact on a reciprocal frequent flyer program that would benefit frequent flyers of both airlines.

All Jet ‘Privilege’ members will now be able to accumulate and transfer miles on all flights on SWISS Air.

The new alliance ensures frequent travelers of both airlines the opportunity of earning frequent flyer miles, utilizing the network facilities available on Jet and SWISS airlines.

Consequently, while Jet Privilege members can benefit from the SWISS’ connectivity to 69 of their worldwide destinations, members of ‘Miles & More’ of SWISS Air can also profit from used mileage on all Jet Airways flights.

Jet ‘Privlege’ members, will qualify for SWISS flights, earning double Jet Privilege Miles on the basis of their class of travel on SWISS Air, as a launch promotion.

Jet Airways India Ltd has announced that the Company and SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines) have entered into a reciprocal Frequent Flyer Programme alliance which will benefit frequent flyers of both airlines. Effective July 15, 2006, all the Company´s Privilege members will be able to accrue and redeem JPMiles on all SWISS operated flights. This partnership will also allow members of Miles & More Frequent Flyer programme (managed by Lufthansa), of which SWISS is a fully integrated partner, to earn and burn Miles & More miles on the Company.

The new partnership aims to serve the frequent travelers of both airlines by way of extending the opportunity of earning frequent flyer miles while traveling across the network of both airlines. So while the Company´s Privilege members can enjoy the convenience and luxury of SWISS´ global connectivity to 69 of their worldwide destinations; members of Miles & More can also accrue and redeem miles on all the Company´s flights, availing of better connectivity and excellence in service across its 48 domestic and international destinations.

As a special launch promotion exclusively for the Company´s Privilege members, from July 15 - August 15, 2006, all the Company´s Privilege members on qualifying SWISS flights will earn double JPMiles on the basis of their class of travel on SWISS.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, Chief Executive Officer, of the Company said, “At Jet Airways it has been our constant endeavor to provide our travelers with high value propositions. Our Frequent Flyer Programme partnership with SWISS will allow Jet Privilege members more mileage accrual and redemption opportunities. Moreover, with Switzerland increasingly becoming a favoured holiday destination, we are confident that Jet Privilege members will benefit from the synergies created by this partnership.”