Swiss flies Boeing 777 to Hong Kong from mid-April, Bangkok in July
By David Flynn, February 10 2016
Swiss will upgrade its daily Hong Kong flights to the airline's newest Boeing 777-300ER from mid-April, with Bangkok to follow in July
The move will showcase Swiss' latest first class and business class to Asian and Asia-bound travellers, with both premium cabins updated from the route's older Airbus A340 jets.
Swiss' stunning new Boeing 777-300ER
Read: Inside the swish new Swiss Boeing 777-300ER
They're a natural evolution of Swiss' award-winning cabins but with more space, more storage and greater privacy, especially in first class...
Swiss' Boeing 777-300ER first class
Swiss' Boeing 777-300ER first class
The business class seats also represent a measured evolution of the current and highly-regarded design rather than a radical make-over...
Swiss' Boeing 777-300ER business class
... and continue to boast a handful of those single 'throne' seats flanked by a pair of imposing side tables, which are ideal for the solo traveller.
Swiss' Boeing 777-300ER business class
Read: Swiss business class 'throne' still rules on the Boeing 777-300ER
Travellers can also access to a new satellite Internet service which will also allow phone calls to be made direct from your smartphone, while passengers in Zurich will be able to enjoy new first class, business class and Senator lounges.
Swiss' Zurich Terminal E first class lounge
A Swiss spokesperson tells Australian Business Traveller that the Boeing 777-300ER flights to Hong Kong will commence from April 10 running three days out of seven, then toggle to every day from May 9, with Zurich-Bangkok seeing daily Boeing 777 flights from July 15.
[This article has been updated with revised dates supplied by Swiss Airlines]
LX luxe has appeal in Asia
Asia is a key market for Swiss and its German parent Lufthansa, with Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr last year telling Australian Business Traveller that "Asia is getting stronger and stronger, not just by size but also demand for quality. It's a growing market and a market where quality brands plays more and more a role."
“The early deployment of the new B777s on Hong Kong and Bangkok routes will give us a great new product to offer discerning long haul customers and fits perfectly with our multi-gateway strategy for Australia”, added SWISS and Lufthansa Group regional general manager Anil Rodricks.
"The new aircraft also offer increased capacity for the growing demand we are experiencing."
Lufthansa and Swiss fly to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore, with many Australians connecting onto the airlines from each of those cities.
Singapore Airlines last year signed a joint venture with Lufthansa and Swiss which is intended to offer more flexible flight times and better connections on key European routes and allow the airlines to chase a greater share of the Australian market.
Read: Singapore Airlines to tempt Aussies with joint Lufthansa, Swiss flights
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
04 Feb 2016
Total posts 2
Perhaps in the long run we may see a continuation of this service with a HKG-SYD leg?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2561
As much as I'd love to see Swiss/Lufthansa and/or Finnair add a south-bound Sydney leg to their flights into Hong Kong or Singapore, I reckon it's quite a ways off, if ever...
30 Jul 2015
Total posts 135
i dont think that will ever happen.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2013
Total posts 132
At least not while their respective alliances remain with SQ and QF...
qf
10 Jun 2015
Total posts 8
10 across in Y on a 777??? I'm out!!!!
Emirates has much to answer for standardising this config!!!
(j and f look great though)
Delta Air Lines - SkyMiles
14 Apr 2013
Total posts 325
With increacing demand/ supply from other carriers and returning a decent to high yeiled, I do beveive that AY, Swiss & LH can return to the Australian Skies. With the 3 main global allianances quite predominatly in the sky, it should not be question of maybe but when in the quickest time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jul 2014
Total posts 143
Swiss has got to have one of the nicest liveries currently in the sky.
13 Aug 2015
Total posts 40
I'm booked in First on the SWISS 777 ZRH-HKG in mid-April (then on to SYD via SIN on SQ a couple of days later). SWISS is definitely aware that there will be a preference to fly this aircraft as they are really limiting A-Class availability on days operated by the 777, and have all but removed First Class award seats for Miles & More elites too.
David - Note that the 777 is still only scheduled ZRH-HKG as Wed, Fri and Sun throughout April, it doesn't toggle to daily from April 1.
Also in fierce agreement that LH Group will not be re-entering the Australian skies anytime soon, as much as I'd love to see them here. According to LH, their Australian operations are more profitable under the current model than when they flew here.
It'll be very interesting to see what the JV with Singapore Airlines has in store for Australia, I'm personally eagerly awaiting details on that one!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2013
Total posts 132
I always found the winglets on their A340s a big plus... Will miss looking out at them.
Staff Travel
10 Sep 2015
Total posts 2
About Finnair coming to Australia: Helsinki is the closest European connection to Asia/Australia and in an interview with Finnair they stated that they were looking into Helsinki-Sydney/Melbourne direct with the A350 as it can make it that far and by the looks of Finnair's A350 cabin I wouldnt skip a beat in deciding wether to go on it or not (YES)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2013
Total posts 132
With QF a330 and EK a380 departing within a few hours of AY arrival, i imagine MEL wouldn't be a priority.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
That would be great. The A350 config looks great
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