SWISS to resume operations to London City Airport

As a sign of things improving Swiss International Air Lines is resuming its operation between Zurich and London City Airport. 

SWISS Airbus A220 at Zurich Airport – Image, Economy Class and Beyond

Flights between Zurich and LCY have formally resumed as of 12th May.

In the first instance, SWISS will operate two rotations per week to Zurich, although their schedule will increase in line with the anticipated surges in demand for leisure and business travel as travel restrictions are relaxed in the UK and Europe this summer.

Currently, Switzerland has initially been placed in the Amber category (in the Green/Amber/Red List system that the UK Government has imposed),. This means that travellers from England will need to take a pre-departure test and PCR tests on days 2 and 8 on their return, and self-isolate at home for 10 days unless exempt.

The UK Government will review this categorisation every three weeks, meaning that continued progress with the vaccination programmes in the UK and Switzerland could open a path to quarantine-free being travel introduced between the two countries.

Whilst London City Airport and SWISS are hoping for June, this of course will be down to government interpretation of the biosecurity standards that expected to be met.

SWISS will gradually scale up their routes and schedules from London City ahead of the autumn as leisure and business traffic picks up. The Swiss national carrier expects to restore its route from LCY to Geneva in August.

In Quotes

Commenting on the resumption of SWISS flights, London City Airport’s Head of Aviation, Anne Doyere, said:  

“We are delighted that SWISS has returned to the airport to restore an important business and leisure connection between London City and Zurich.

Zürich is a key centre for international business, finance and tourism, so this is very positive news for our passengers who can once again enjoy safe and speedy journeys to Zurich direct from the heart of London.”

Tamur Goudarzi Pour, Chief Commercial Officer, Swiss International Air Lines, said:

“We are very pleased to resume connections from Zurich and Geneva to London City. Its proximity to the city center and its convenient size with short distances make London City Airport equally attractive for our business and leisure travelers.”

Going, whilst waiting for Green

The resumption of the London City to Zurich route will be important for those who need to conduct face to face business, as well as families who have been separated since the pandemic began

However, for the link to fly and excel, both the UK and Swiss Governments will need to agree on appropriate entry criteria. It seems SWISS is hoping for a change of heart in June, to allow it to increase services and capacity

We’ll see if the Governmental side can keep up.

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