Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines was formed before the 2001 bankruptcy of Swissair, Switzerland's former flag carrier. The failed airline's biggest creditors, Credit Suisse and UBS, arranged to sell Swissair's assets to Crossair, the regional counterpart to the transatlantic Swissair (both Swissair and Crossair were under the same holding company, called SRGroup). Crossair then changed its name to SWISS, and the new national airline started its operations on March 31, 2002.

Swiss International Air Lines operates mainly from Zürich International Airport in Zürich, Switzerland and Cointrin International Airport in Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss International Air Lines uses the IATA Call Code LX, which it inherited from Crossair (Swissair's code was SR).

After two series of significant downsizing, SWISS currently operates a fleet of 81 aircraft, of which 20 are long-haul, 22 medium-haul, and 39 regional aircraft. The following is a list of the current SWISS fleet at January 2004:

• Airbus A319
• Airbus A320
• Airbus A321
• Airbus A330
• Airbus A340
• MD-11 (retired)
• Avro RJ 85
• Avro RJ 100
• Embraer ERJ 145
• Saab 2000

After almost a year of disputes, SWISS was finally accepted in the oneworld Airline alliance, after having been blocked by British Airways, with which SWISS competes on many long-haul routes. On June 3, 2004, SWISS announced its decision not to join oneworld because SWISS didn't want to integrate its current frequent flyer program into oneworld's Executive Club.

On Sunday 13 March 2005, rumours have it that SWISS is merging with Lufthansa German Airlines. Lufthansa has assured SWISS that the SWISS brand and Zürich hub will be kept with at least 18 long haul aircrafts. On Tuesday 22 March 2005 Lufthansa said its takeover of Swiss International Airlines has won approval from both companies' boards and major shareholders.

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