Edelweiss Air, the Swiss-based leisure carrier, has unveiled the initial route plans for its incoming Airbus A350 fleet when they begin to arrive with the carrier in 2025. The first two destinations that will receive service from the new widebodies will be Las Vegas and Vancouver, with both routes becoming bookable from May 2024. Upon their entry into service, Edelweiss will become the first airline in Switzerland to operate the Airbus A350.
The airline currently has an order for six A350s to replace its aging fleet of Airbus A340-300 quad jets, which have an average age of 20.5 years. The first of the new planes is scheduled to arrive in April 2025, and although the aircraft will be deployed on long-haul routes, it will initially fly to various short and medium-haul destinations in the first few weeks for crew training and familiarization purposes.
Las Vegas-Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) will be the first long-haul destination that Edelweiss will fly to with the Airbus A350 from its hub at Zurich-Kloten Airport (ZRH). From mid-May 2025, the aircraft will be deployed three times a week on this route. The Zurich to Vancouver (YVR) route will be served daily when the second Airbus A350 enters service at the beginning of July 2025.
Edelweiss has traditionally served LAS during the spring and summer months although withdraws the service during the winter season. Services to Vancouver follow a similar pattern although the operating season is shorter in duration and lasts from May to October each year.
The third Airbus A350 will join the Edelweiss fleet at the beginning of October 2025 while the fourth will be added in winter 2025. The final two A350s will be in service by the end of 2026, bringing the fleet up to the full six.
The carrier is keen to boast the credentials and environmental benefits of the newer A350s over their older and more fuel-thirsty stable mate, the A340. The new planes will consume 25% less fuel and produce 25% less carbon dioxide than the four-engine Airbus A340-300, while noise emissions are also up to 50% lower, according to the carrier.
By ordering the A350-900s, Edelweiss is updating its current long-haul fleet. Its existing fleet of five Airbus A340-300 aircraft will all be gone from service with the carrier by mid-2027 when Edelweiss’ long-haul fleet will be restored to its pre-pandemic level of six aircraft. The airline also operates a short-haul fleet of 14 Airbus A320-200s of flights across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East regions.
Edelweiss is Switzerland’s leading leisure travel airline and flies to destinations worldwide with its fleet of 19 Airbus aircraft. Edelweiss is a sister company of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) and a member of the Lufthansa Group of carriers, which also includes Lufthansa, Lufthansa Cargo, Discover Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, and SWISS.