Swiss International Air Lines will continue to rely heavily on aircraft leasing agreements well into 2026 due to ongoing issues with Pratt & Whitney engines, according to comments made by the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer. The airline had hoped to reduce its dependence on these agreements, also known as wet-leases, but engine problems are preventing it from doing so.
Swiss Initially Aimed for a Single Wet-Lease Partner
Swiss had initially planned to consolidate its wet-lease arrangements to a single partner, with Helvetic Airways – another Swiss airline – being the frontrunner. Last summer, Helvetic Airways provided 16 of the 22 leased aircraft utilized by Swiss. The move reflects a broader industry trend toward streamlining operations and reducing reliance on external providers.
However, Heike Birlenbach explained that reducing the number of flights operated by external airlines is currently not feasible. “Because there are still too many problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines, we will have to operate very strongly with wet-leases in the summer of 2026 as well,” Birlenbach stated. The airline is also strengthening its partnership with Air Baltic.
27 Leased Aircraft Will Be in Service for Swiss
At peak times, Swiss will utilize 27 aircraft from other airlines. Fifteen of these will be from Helvetic Airways, eleven from Air Baltic and one from its sister airline, Edelweiss. Despite the continued reliance on wet-leases, Birlenbach reiterated the company’s long-term goal of becoming more independent. “But for that, we need enough aircraft that can fly,” she added.
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