Edelweiss Airlines has revealed plans to launch new long-haul flights to the sea. | kbnmart

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Edelweiss Air is set to expand its long-haul network by introducing two new routes to North America in the summer of 2025. The Zurich-based leisure airline, a subsidiary of Swiss International Air Lines and part of the Lufthansa Group, plans to launch flights connecting Zurich with Seattle and Halifax. The move is aimed at boosting its transatlantic flight offerings and meeting growing passenger demand.

This expansion reflects Edelweiss Air’s commitment to increasing its global presence and providing more travel options for its customers. By adding Seattle and Halifax, Edelweiss Air not only taps into key tourism and business markets, but also strengthens its transatlantic connections, providing passengers with more flexible and convenient travel solutions.

The decision to add these North American destinations comes as Edelweiss Air continues to recover and expand in the wake of global travel disruptions. With a focus on leisure travel, the airline has strategically selected locations that are popular for their natural beauty and cultural offerings, in line with the preferences of its mostly holiday-oriented customers. These new flights are expected to boost tourism exchanges and strengthen the close economic ties between Switzerland and North America.

New seasonal services
Edelweiss will operate a twice-weekly service between Zurich and Seattle from June to September. This will be followed by a new route to Halifax, Canada, with flights from July to early October. These additions are expected to cater to both leisure and business travellers between these destinations.

Fleet Update
These services will initially be operated with Airbus A340-300 aircraft. Later in the season, the airline plans to upgrade these flights to the latest Airbus A350-900 aircraft, in line with its fleet modernization strategy. Edelweiss has placed an order for six Airbus A350s, with the first aircraft expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2025. The inaugural Airbus A350 is currently being repainted in the Edelweiss livery at a facility in Shannon, Ireland.

A350 Phased Deployment
Upon delivery, the A350s will initially be deployed on various short- and medium-haul routes to improve crew training and operational integration. The new aircraft’s first long-haul destination will be Las Vegas, starting in May 2025. Following the entry into service of the second A350, the airline will begin operations to Vancouver in July. Fleet expansion will continue with the introduction of a third A350 in October 2025 and a fourth in the 2025-2026 winter season. The final two aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2026.

Strengthening US and Canadian Networks
The launch of the Zurich-Seattle route will complement Edelweiss’ existing US routes to Denver, Las Vegas and Tampa, strengthening its presence in the US market. Meanwhile, the new Halifax service will become Edelweiss’ third Canadian destination, alongside Calgary and Vancouver. According to the latest data from OAG Schedules Analyser, these routes will fill a gap where there are currently no direct services from Switzerland to Seattle or Halifax.

These new routes not only expand Edelweiss Air’s geographical footprint, but also underscore its commitment to enhancing connectivity and providing passengers with more direct route options across its long-haul network.