Swiss Airlines Resumes Service After 27 Years... Incheon-Zurich Route Reopens

Regular flights three times a week

On the morning of the 8th, officials are taking a commemorative photo in front of Gate 46 at Incheon Airport Terminal 1. From the third person on the left: Markus Binkert, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Swiss International Air Lines; Leandro Tonidandel, Head of Swiss International Air Lines Korea Branch; Martin Niederger, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Swiss Tourism Board; Dagmar Schmidt Tartally, Swiss Ambassador to Korea; and Kim Chang-gyu, Head of Future Business Division at Incheon International Airport Corporation. (Photo by Incheon International Airport Corporation)

Kim Chang-gyu, Head of Future Business Division at Incheon International Airport Corporation (third from the right), and Swiss International Air Lines officials are taking a commemorative photo.

Swiss International Air Lines (FSC), a major Swiss airline, is resuming flights to domestic airports after 27 years.

Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 8th that Swiss International Air Lines will operate a regular Incheon-Zurich route starting from that day.

This marks the first time Swiss International Air Lines has resumed service to South Korea since it ceased operations on the Gimpo-Zurich route in 1998, 27 years ago. Until now, Korean Air has been operating the Incheon-Zurich route exclusively three times a week. With Swiss International Air Lines deploying an A340 (215 seats) to operate three flights per week, passenger convenience is expected to improve.

Swiss International Air Lines currently serves 97 cities in 46 countries, mainly in Europe including Germany and Italy. It owns 86 aircraft and transported 19.3 million passengers last year. This Incheon route is the third new route in Northeast Asia following Shanghai (Pudong), China, and Tokyo (Narita), Japan.

Lee Hak-jae, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, "Through various marketing efforts including visits to the Swiss International Air Lines headquarters, we have succeeded in attracting Switzerland's largest airline." He added, "New routes to Europe are scheduled to open by the end of this year, including Zagreb, Croatia (T'way Air) and Lisbon, Portugal (Korean Air), gradually expanding the air routes from Incheon to Europe."