Earlier this month, SWISS International Air Lines (SWISS), a member of the Lufthansa Group, took delivery of its first Airbus A350-900. The jet, registered HB-IAF, has been named Lausanne and features a special wanderlust-themed livery. It officially entered service yesterday, on October 25, operating its maiden flight from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca.
The A350 is the first of ten aircraft on order for the carrier and marks a key step in the renewal of its long-haul fleet. It will also be the first aircraft to debut SWISS’ new SWISS Senses cabin, which introduces redesigned business, premium economy, and economy class interiors.
SWISS’ A350 To Operate Initial European Flights Before Long-Haul Launch
Initially, SWISS will deploy its new Airbus A350-900 on short-haul routes within Europe, mainly because of crew training and aircraft familiarization. According to data from aviation analytics provider Cirium, the airline has scheduled flights to six European destinations between October 25 and the end of the northern winter season in March 2026.
As previously mentioned, the inaugural commercial service operated from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca, followed by a single flight to Malaga on the same day. In the coming months, the airline will also operate A350 on select flights to Prague, Düsseldorf, and Hannover, though at limited frequencies.
That being said, starting November 20, the 
Star Alliance member will launch its first long-haul A350 service between Zurich and Boston, operating four times weekly. In addition, it will launch the next A350 long-haul route to Zurich–Montreal, beginning February 23 and running daily through March 28. For now, these remain the only scheduled routes for the type, as SWISS has yet to finalize its summer 2026 schedule.
|
SWISS Airbus A350-900 Routes (Until March 2026) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Destination |
Total Flights (one way) |
Notes |
|
Prague |
96 |
Started the route on October 25; Will offer 22 flights in November; 19 in December; 17 in January; 16 each in February and March |
|
Boston |
87 |
Starting on November 20, operating four times weekly (on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) |
|
Montreal |
34 |
Daily departures, starting from February 23 till March 28 |
|
Hannover |
Seven |
Two flights in October (one each on 27 and 30); Five flights in November (one each on 1,3,6,10, and 17) |
|
Düsseldorf |
Six |
Two flights in October (one each on 26 and 31); Four flights in November (one each on 2 and 19, two on 16) |
|
Palma de Mallorca |
Five |
Three flights in October (one each on 25, 30, and 31); Two flights in November (one each on 12 and 13) |
|
Malaga |
One |
Operated a flight on October 25 |
|
Geneva |
One |
One flight on November 7 |
The A350 Will Feature SWISS’ New Four-Class ‘SWISS Senses’ Cabin
The airline’s new A350 can accommodate around 242 passengers across four cabins. As mentioned, it is the first aircraft to feature SWISS’ new SWISS Senses cabin, the airline’s next-generation inflight experience for long-haul travel, which it unveiled in March 2023.
This reflects Lufthansa Group’s broader strategy to align premium cabin standards across its member airlines. So, essentially, SWISS Senses is the Swiss-branded version of Lufthansa’s Allegris cabin design, which is adapted to match the airline’s own design identity. According to aeroLOPA, the layout includes four first class suites, 45 business class seats in a 1-2-1 setup, 38 premium economy recliners arranged 2-3-2, and 156 economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.
The new first class features fully enclosed suites with sliding doors, a personal wardrobe, seat heating and cooling functions, a wireless charging station, and a large display that spans nearly the entire width of the suite. Similarly, business class seats also include heating and cooling options, wireless charging, and direct aisle access, with lie-flat beds measuring between 2 and 2.2 meters in length. For now, the airline will debut the product exclusively on the A350s and gradually introduce it across its Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 fleets.
SWISS’ A350s To Replace The Airline’s Aging A340s
Indeed, the arrival of the Airbus A350 marks the beginning of a major renewal phase for SWISS’ long-haul fleet. According to ch-aviation data, the airline currently operates 14 Airbus A330-300s, four A340-300s, and 12 Boeing 777-300ERs. The new A350s are set to gradually replace the older aircraft, starting with the four-engine A340s, which are now an average of 22 years old.
SWISS first announced its plan to acquire the A350 back in 2019 to make its long-haul operations more efficient and sustainable. According to Airbus, the A350 offers up to a 25% improvement in fuel burn, operating costs, and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft. In fact, the airline says the type consumes around 22% less fuel per passenger than its A340s.
The airline initially placed an order for five A350-900s in 2022, followed by an additional five in 2023. The remaining aircraft from the first batch will be delivered gradually by the end of 2026, while the second batch is scheduled to arrive between 2027 and 2031.
