The "Melchsee-Frutt" makes everything new

The fleet of Switzerland's leading leisure airline keeps growing. The latest addition was christened "Melchsee-Frutt" on Thursday, December 1st. The "Melchsee-Frutt" is Edelweiss' first A340 aircraft, specially designed for flights to Edelweiss' new dream destinations. And that's just the beginning – there are countless new features to discover on the aircraft as well.

With alphorn players and trumpeters, the "Melchsee-Frutt" was launched at Zurich Airport on Thursday, December 1st. It is already the fourth Edelweiss aircraft named after Swiss holiday regions where the edelweiss flower grows. And the "Melchsee-Frutt" is the first A340 in the Edelweiss fleet.

"The A340 is the ideal aircraft for Edelweiss in terms of range and capacity," says CEO Bernd Bauer. "With our new flagship, we can reach new holiday destinations that we wouldn't have been able to reach with our previous long-haul aircraft."

For its maiden flight on December 1st, the "Melchsee-Frutt" will depart for Cape Town and will also fly to Phuket over the winter. A second A340 will then join the Edelweiss fleet in the spring. With this acquisition, Edelweiss can expand its existing long-haul network – as San Diego, alongside Costa Rica and Cancun, will be one of Edelweiss' new dream destinations starting in 2017. Two more A340s will follow in 2018.

Fresh interior design and state-of-the-art seats
The cabin of the new Airbus A340 has been completely redesigned and equipped with comfortable, state-of-the-art seats, making travel even more enjoyable. The new Edelweiss interior design evokes a sense of vacation, exuding warmth and comfort. Whether curtains, pillows, blankets, or rugs, the materials are of high quality and crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Natural-looking fabrics and traditional patterns create a sense of home and reinforce Edelweiss' Swiss connection.

However, the new design is truly showcased by the new lighting concept, which also illuminates guests in the best possible light. State-of-the-art LED technology has been installed, which can be programmed to any color and light temperature. This makes the sunrise just before breakfast service even more pleasant and unique.

Swiss quality and hospitality
As of today, the new A340 carries the name of the Central Swiss holiday region of Melchsee-Frutt to the world. "We are proud to have a region from Central Switzerland represented by Edelweiss with this aircraft," said Bernd Bauer at the christening of the A340. "The location suits us. Melchsee-Frutt, like Edelweiss, stands for Swiss quality and hospitality." And Erich Ettlin, member of the Council of States from Obwalden, summed it up: "Edelweiss and Melchsee-Frutt have one thing in common: Once you visit us, you'll always return."

In addition to the latest fleet expansion, Edelweiss also unveiled the new uniforms for its flight attendants and pilots, which have been completely redesigned for the first time in twenty years. With the growing route network and larger fleet, the company also plans to expand its flight crew, who carry Edelweiss' Swiss hospitality to the wider world.

Facts about the A340