Swiss and Helvetic extend wet-lease deal for further five years

Swiss International Air Lines and Helvetic Airways have extended their long-standing wet-lease partnership for a further five years. Zurich-based Helvetic said on 1 October that it will operate “up to” 15 Embraer 190-E2 and 195-E2 aircraft for the major carrier across its European network under the new deal. “Helvetic Airways fully and consistently meets all our high safety standards and all our premium aspirations, and is well-liked by our customers,” says Swiss’ CCO Heike Birlenbach. “Our collaboration not only enables us to cover our operating peaks: with Helvetic’s smaller aircraft, we can also serve destinations for which our own Swiss aircraft would be too big.” Under the agreement, Helvetic will operate up to nine aircraft during the upcoming European winter season for the Lufthansa Group carrier, increasing to 15 during next year’s summer travel peak. “We are proud that the partnership which Swiss and Helvetic Airways have cultivated since 2007 will now be further extended and expanded,” adds Helvetic CE Tobias Pogorevc. <br/>