Start of a new era: Edelweiss celebrates the first scheduled flight with the Airbus A350
- Inaugural flight with the Airbus A350 to Tenerife
- Ceremonial gate event with ribbon cutting by the Edelweiss management
- 307 passengers enjoy exclusive inaugural flight with a special keepsake
Today, Tuesday, Edelweiss celebrated the inaugural flight of their new Airbus A350 to Tenerife at Zurich Airport. The festive occasion was opened with a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the entire management team of Edelweiss, consisting of Bernd Bauer, CEO, Patrick Heymann, Chief Commercial Officer, David Birrer, Chief Operating Officer, and Markus Gander, Chief Product Officer, together with Stefan Tschudin, Chief Operation Officer of Zurich Airport, as well as the crew, cut the symbolic ribbon. The joy over this special milestone was palpable among both the guests and the employees.
After boarding, the 307 guests on board were warmly welcomed and received a glass of champagne as a special start to the flight, setting the mood for the upcoming journey. As an exclusive keepsake, each seat was adorned with a special "Remove before 1st Flight" tag, featuring a small plaque individually engraved with the respective seat number – a personal memento that makes this historic day unforgettable for the guests.
Before departure, Bernd Bauer, CEO of Edelweiss, expressed his enthusiasm: "Today is a historic day for Edelweiss. It is not only the first scheduled flight of a Swiss airline with an Airbus A350 – we are making a clear statement for our future. With the Airbus A350, we have one of the most modern and efficient aircraft in its class. Today marks a milestone on our path to a more responsible future of holiday flying."
The Airbus A350 stands for maximum efficiency and environmental compatibility: thanks to state-of-the-art technology, the aircraft consumes up to 25 percent less fuel than comparable models and consequently produces less CO₂ emissions. At the same time, it offers guests a particularly quiet flying experience, generous space, and modern cabin features.
The Airbus A350 took off on time at 11:15 AM from Zurich towards the popular holiday island of Tenerife.
Initially, the Airbus A350 will be used on short and medium-haul routes to familiarize the crews with the new aircraft type. In addition to Tenerife, holiday destinations such as Faro, Ibiza, Heraklion, Palma de Mallorca, Antalya, and others will also be served with the Airbus A350 in the coming weeks. From May 15, 2025, it is planned to operate on long-haul routes, starting with Las Vegas.