Swiss International Airlines is planning significant fleet upgrades and looking into expanding its U.S. service, according to senior director of the Americas Patrick Heymann.
Heymann, who began his current role in May, said on Wednesday that Swiss aims to "be closer to our customer and have a higher product point" with new aircraft. "When you have a fleet of 90 aircraft, its easier to get there," he added.
Swiss' parent Lufthansa Group this week announced it has ordered 15 Airbus A320neo aircraft, with an option for 10 more to be confirmed later, to replace its existing A320 fleet. The aircraft, touted for its fuel efficiency, will begin replacing some of Swiss' short-haul craft in 2019.
In the shorter term, Swiss next year plans to introduce Bombardier CSeries aircraft to replace the 20 Avro RJ100 fleet that serves short-haul routes from Zurich. The new craft will be quieter and cut fuel consumption as much as a quarter, according to Swiss.
On longer-haul flights, Swiss in 2015 will begin phasing in six Boeing B777-300ER craft for its longest routes, including those to the western United States and East Asia, adding another 100 seats of capacity on those flights, Heymann said. While Swiss will monitor market demand as many airlines opt to move to two-class cabins, current plans are to make all its new aircraft three-class cabins, as is the carrier's standard for long-haul flights, he said.
Additionally, Swiss has no plans to roll out a premium-economy product, although its affiliate Edelweiss Air offers premium-economy seating, according to Heymann.
While these new aircraft serve largely to replace existing aircraft, Swiss also is "looking into opportunities to open additional markets in the United States," he said. Currently in the United States, Swiss serves Boston, Chicago, New York, Newark, Los Angeles, Miami and San Francisco.