Edelweiss first took off 30 years ago today
- First commercial Edelweiss flight on February 10, 1996
- Today's anniversary flight celebrates the historic connection to Larnaca
- Celebrations at Larnaca Airport
Today, February 10, 2026, Edelweiss celebrates a special anniversary: Exactly 30 years ago, the Swiss leisure airline's first commercial flight took off. The inaugural flight in 1996 went from Zurich via Paphos to Larnaca – a destination that remains an integral part of the Edelweiss route network to this day.
Edelweiss Air AG had been founded just a few months earlier, on October 19, 1995, by Kuoni Reisen AG and Niklaus Grob. Grob became the first CEO of the fledgling airline, whose fleet at that time consisted of two McDonnell Douglas MD-83s. Edelweiss officially commenced operations with its inaugural flight to Larnaca.
To mark its 30th anniversary, Edelweiss celebrated its origins today with a special flight to Larnaca. Guests were greeted with a sweet surprise upon arrival at Larnaca Airport.
The inaugural flight laid the foundation for the airline's continuous development. Today, Edelweiss connects Switzerland with over 100 holiday destinations in Europe, Africa, North and Central America, and the Indian Ocean. Larnaca is still served year-round, and even daily from April to October.
With today's anniversary, Edelweiss looks back on the moment when it all began and at the same time sets a sign for the future: The first flight to Larnaca in 1996 was the starting signal for 30 years of Swiss holiday flying.