Swiss International Airlines - the next new 777-300 customer?

Swiss International Air Lines may finalize an order for six Boeing 777-300ER sooner than expected, an unnamed source told ATW. The aircraft would replace its fleet of 15 Airbus A340-300s.

CEO Harry Hohmeister told ATW in November the replacement decision was expected between April and November of this year. He also said the carrier preferred an aircraft size that offers more seats than its 228-seat A340-300.

However, the order also depends on “the economic development in our industry and when we can make real money again,” he said. Since it is such a large investment, “the price of the new aircraft will be an essential element of these talks.”

This would be the first Lufthansa Group member airline to order the 777-300ER. Austrian Airlines operates four 777-200ERs and plans to add one more Boeing 777 to its fleet in 2014 and one in 2015 to increase long-haul capacity around 25%.

(Kurt Hofmann - ATWOnline News)