Tribune de Genève.
According to the Tribune de Genève, the airline has confirmed that its German owner, Lufthansa Group, is looking into the possibility. Aircraft carrying the Swiss logo could be replaced by planes from Lufthansa’s low cost airline, Eurowings.
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Le Matin Dimanche, reportedly heard of a meeting of employees of Swiss in French-speaking Switzerland, which was held at the end of June. In the meeting staff had been told that Eurowings “had been asked to put together a business plan for Geneva”. The newspaper also reported that a deadline for the decision had been set for next summer.
A Eurowings aircraft at Dusseldorf Airport – © Jürgen H. Borngraeber | Dreamstime.com
Geneva state councillor, Pierre Maudet told the paper that “This is a disgrace for a company flying the Swiss flag.”
Ten years ago when the national carrier was taken over by the Lufthansa Group, a spokesperson for the company said “Of course Swiss will stay in Geneva.” Interviewed recently by Le Matin Dimanche, a company spokesperson said “It’s to soon to say what the future will look like. Different scenarios are being considered. No decision has been taken yet and it won’t be for the next two or three years at the earliest.”
At the same time the company confirmed that in Geneva the airline “Had clearly not reached the targets set in terms of profitability.” In response to this challenge the group favours using small Bombardier jets. The number of destinations served from Geneva is going to be reduced, added the spokesperson.
The news has come as a shock. Replacing Swiss with a low cost airline is bad news for an airport that local authorities see as Geneva’s connection to the world. The canton was fighting to reinstate flights to Tehran over the spring.
A spokesperson for Geneva Airport said “The airport will make sure it has the means to ensure that all current destinations continue to be served.”
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Swiss has become the alpine division of group based in Cologne, representing only 15% of Geneva airport’s activity. Over the years, Easyjet has become Geneva airport’s main carrier, representing 42% of the airport’s activity.
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