TORONTO — There’s more connectivity between Canada and Switzerland these days thanks to the new Toronto-Zurich route serviced by SWISS International Air Lines.

The flag carrier inaugurated the new addition with a gala event earlier this month, and now travellers are enjoying nonstop flights departing from Toronto five days a week to Switzerland’s biggest city.

Toronto joins Montreal as the two Canadian gateways with SWISS service, plus Calgary and Vancouver also have flights to Zurich with Edelweiss, a sister airline of SWISS and part of the Lufthansa Group.

Amidst the excitement of the new Toronto service, Travelweek caught up with Heike Birlenbach, Chief Commercial Officer, SWISS to find out more about the airline’s expectations for the route.

Travelweek: The new route linking Toronto and Zurich is great news. If the flights perform well, is there any possibility of daily service, and/or extending beyond the summer?

Birlenbach: “For now, the flight is a seasonal flight occurring five days a week. At SWISS, our experts are always monitoring the success of a flight, and we will certainly be looking to see if it is feasible to go to daily service or extend to other seasons, which will also depend on available aircraft and operational aspects.”

Heike Birlenbach, Chief Commercial Officer, SWISS

Travelweek: Does SWISS offer other routes from Canada?

Birlenbach: “Yes, SWISS flies daily from Zurich to Montreal. Also, SWISS (operated by Edelweiss) offers three weekly connections from Zurich to Calgary, and daily flights from Zurich to Vancouver. Edelweiss is a sister airline of SWISS and also part of the Lufthansa Group.”

Travelweek: The Toronto-Zurich flights will be serviced by A330-300s. Is there anything special about this aircraft that you want travel advisors to know about?

Birlenbach: “In the SWISS configuration, the A330 offers space for a total of 236 passengers in three classes.

“All SWISS long-haul flights offer a First Class option, which is somewhat rare these days for all long-haul flights to provide. The SWISS First Class is in a category of its own, offering a premium product with personalized and individual attention to passengers.

“In Business Class, most of the seats have direct aisle access, which passengers really appreciate.

“From 2025 onwards, we will offer our customers a totally new and more personalized ‘SWISS Senses’ air travel experience. The centerpiece of the new product will be an entirely redesigned cabin for the whole long-haul aircraft fleet, including the A330, which will be retrofitted in 2026 and in which – with the SWISS Senses product – four classes will then be offered, including Premium Economy. The future SWISS First suites will offer even more privacy with closeable sliding doors. Also in Business Class selected seats can be closed off with a sliding door.

“And, since 2002, SWISS’s First and Business Class travellers are able to experience the ‘SWISS Taste of Switzerland’ program, which is served on long-haul flights from Switzerland. This culinary journey offers quality dishes from Switzerland’s various regions, prepared by a new Michelin-starred and GaultMillau-point top chef, rotating every three months. Currently, we are serving specialties from Canton Grisons.”

Travelweek: What sort of corporate / leisure mix are you hoping to see on the new Toronto-Zurich route?

Birlenbach: “Quite honestly, we are hoping to see a healthy mix of passengers, from leisure to corporate, as well as incoming travellers and tour groups. Compared to other routes in North America, there are more private travellers to be expected, with a balanced amount from East and West.”

Travelweek: What’s your message to Canadian travel advisors when it comes to SWISS, and Switzerland as a destination for summer and fall 2024?

Birlenbach: “SWISS is the leading airline of Switzerland, offering passengers a premium experience in all classes. We provide flights from Zurich and Geneva throughout Switzerland, to all of Europe and all over the world. Furthermore, SWISS embodies Switzerland’s traditional values and is dedicated to delivering a premium product and a high level of service quality.

“SWISS works closely with Switzerland’s rail system to offer an intermodal system whereby your rail pass can easily be added to your flight ticket. The Swiss rail system is by far one of the top systems in Europe.

“Switzerland is high on the list as one of Europe’s most breathtaking countries, offering a variety of attractive and charming cities all year round, including rustic alpine resorts and pristine landscapes.”

For more information see SWISS.com.