SWISS Launches Maiden Airbus A350 on Zurich to Palma de Mallorca Route

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) marked a significant milestone on October 25, 2025, with the inaugural passenger flight of its brand new Airbus A350.

This flight was notable as the airline’s first revenue service, carrying 233 passengers onboard, as announced by SWISS. The aircraft is the first of ten Airbus A350s set to be integrated into the SWISS fleet by 2031.

The Airbus A350-900 took off from Zurich (ZRH) on flight LX2152, heading to Palma de Mallorca (PMI) at 07:11 local time. It covered 666 miles in just one hour and fifty minutes. Additionally, this flight featured the innovative ‘SWISS Senses’ long-haul cabin.

Oliver Buchhofer, COO of SWISS, stated, “This first revenue passenger flight of our new Airbus A350 is the result of many months of hard behind-the-scenes work.” He emphasized the complexity involved in introducing a new aircraft type from technical, operational, and commercial perspectives.

SWISS Chief Financial Officer Dennis Weber shared that the airline is investing CHF 1 billion (approximately USD $1.26 billion) annually to enhance the travel experience for passengers. He remarked, “Our new Airbus A350 is the most visible evidence of all these investments. Our advanced new twinjet will set new benchmarks in the way our customers fly with us – more comfortably, more efficiently, and more sustainably than ever before.”

SWISS to Roll Out A350 Across European Routes

In the upcoming weeks, SWISS plans to operate the new Airbus A350 HB-IFA, named Lausanne, to various European destinations, including Prague, Hanover, Düsseldorf, Málaga, and Palma de Mallorca.

The airline noted that all pilots have successfully completed takeoff and landing practice without passengers as part of their basic flight training on the A350. Flying the aircraft under real conditions will now be the next step in their training process.

SWISS mentioned that these shorter European routes are crucial for integrating the new A350 before its long-haul operations begin.

During this phase of short-haul service, travelers can still book economy and business class tickets as usual. However, the A350’s premium economy seats will be sold as economy seats with additional legroom.

It’s important to note that first-class accommodations won’t be accessible on these short-haul A350 flights, as the full SWISS First experience will only launch on future long-haul journeys.

Looking ahead, the next key event in this program is scheduled for November 20, 2025, when HB-IFA will embark on its inaugural flight to Boston from Zurich.