Tag Archives: Helvetic Airways

Helvetic Airways to take off earlier from Zurich and Bern into summer 2023

Helvetic Airways is extending next year’s summer season, starting its services to the Mediterranean’s finest warm-water destinations in April from Zurich and in May from Bern.

In Zurich, Helvetic Airways is teaming up with tour operator Hotelplan Suisse to offer summerseason air travel services from next spring onwards. Non-stop flights to Crete, Cyprus and Hurghada will be operated from the beginning of April; and these will be joined from May by a Sunday service to Palma de Mallorca which, in addition to Hotelplan Suisse, can also be booked via Mallorca travel specialist Universal.

With the start of the Swiss summer holiday period at the beginning of July, Helvetic Airways’ schedules will be further expanded with weekly service to both Kos and Antalya and an additional weekly full charter to Crete on behalf of Hotelplan Suisse. Helvetic Airways’ 2023 summer flight programme from Zurich is rounded off with a full charter to Kittilä in Finland on behalf of Northern Europe travel specialist Kontiki.

In view of the high demand expected, Helvetic Airways will operate these 2023 summer services from Zurich with its larger Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, which seat 134 passengers.

Popular flight programmes from Bern and Sion in summer 2023, too

Next summer, too, Helvetic Airways will take off for points south from the Swiss capital of Bern in collaboration with Hotelplan Suisse und TUI Suisse. The 2023 Bern summer flight programme begins with Universal full-charter service to Palma de Mallorca on 21 May, with two further weekly Mallorca flights to be added from the beginning of June along with further services to Crete (twice weekly) and Kos, Rhodes, Cyprus and Antalya (all once weekly). For summer 2023, too, Helvetic Airways will be stationing one of its 110-seat Embraer E190-E2 aircraft at Bern Airport to maintain reliable flight operations, together with the requisite cockpit and cabin personnel.

The red-and-white Embraer E-Jets of Helvetic Airways will also be seen in Sion again in summer 2023, from where they will operate full charters to Palma de Mallorca on behalf of Buchard Voyages from the beginning of June to mid-October.

Top Copyright Photo: Helvetic Airways Embaer ERJ 190-E2 (ERJ 190-300 STD) HB-AZG (msn 19020036) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 957845.

Helvetic Airways aircraft photo gallery:

Embraer E190-E2 makes first commercial flight into London City Airport

Thursday, September 2, 2021 saw an important debut for London City Airport. At 5:45 pm, an Embraer E190-E2 made its first commercial flight into the iconic airport in the center of the British political and financial capital. Registered as HB-AZG, the Helvetic Airways aircraft flew from Zurich to London in 1 hour 20 minutes, also reestablishing an essential link for the global financial community.

Flight LX 456, operated by Helvetic Airways on behalf of its partner company Swiss International Air Lines, was welcomed by a water salute from London City Airport’s fire service. On board the sold out flight were 110 passengers, including representatives of the international media, business travelers, as well as those visiting friends and family.

With LCY’s runway length of only 1,508 meters and descent angles of up to 5.5 degrees, the Embraer E2 is particularly suitable for operations at the legendary Thames-side airport.

Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways provides a range of short and medium-haul air services from its hubs at Zurich Airport and EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg. The carrier deploys its 16 Embraer E Jet aircraft (8 E190-E2, 4 E195-E2 und 4 E190-E1) on scheduled, charter and wet-lease flights. Eight Helvetic Airways Embraer E190-E1s and E2s are currently operated on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines under a long-term wet-lease agreement.

Helvetic Airways to base two aircraft at EuroAirport serving Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg

Helvetic Airways Embaer ERJ 190-100AR (IGW) HB-JVT (msn 19000199) ZRH (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 954322.

Helvetic Airways is stationing two aircraft of its Embraer E-Jet fleet at EuroAirport which services the Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg area from July 10, 2021.

The new operation from the world’s only binational airport, which serves a trinational catchment area, is a first for the Swiss regional carrier. The aircraft will be deployed on weekend services to the Greek island of Santorini, to the Spanish city of Jerez and to Larnaca on Cyprus.

The Med on Basel’s doorstep

Santorini is the southernmost of Greece’s Cyclades islands, and enjoys more hours of sunshine than anywhere else in the country. The island’s spectacular landscapes are the product of volcanic activity, and are famed above all for their magical craters. Santorini will receive weekly Saturday Helvetic Airways service.

Helvetic Airways’ second new destination is Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. The city , which is renowned for both its surrounding vineyards and its rich cultural heritage, stands on the plain at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River in southern Andalusia, some 12 kilometres from the Atlantic coast. Jerez will also receive a weekly Saturday service.

Larnaca on Cyprus will welcome Sunday weekly Helvetic Airways flights. The island’s third largest city is also a port with a thousand-year history and some 340 days of sunshine a year, all of which makes it a popular holiday destination.

Top Copyright Photo: Helvetic Airways Embaer ERJ 190-100AR (IGW) HB-JVT (msn 19000199) ZRH (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 954322.

Helvetic Airways aircraft slide show:

Helvetic Airways takes delivery of its first Embraer E195-E2

Helvetic Airways officially took possession of the first of its four new Embraer E195-E2s, the biggest aircraft in the Embraer E-Jet E2 program, yesterday in São José dos Campos (June 23, 2021).
The event was a virtual affair, owing to the current coronavirus situation.
Embraer E195-E2 HB-AZI will arrive at the Zurich base on Friday, June 25, 2021, from 16:30 to 18:30 local time.

Helvetic Airways sets course for the Balearic and Greek islands this summer

Delivered on February 23, 2020

Helvetic Airways will serve Kos, Heraklion and Palma de Mallorca in this year’s peak summer season, in collaboration with tour operators Hotelplan Suisse and Universal. Flights will operate from Zurich and Bern between July and October.

The air transport sector remains severely affected by the present pandemic. Slow progress on the vaccination front, continued travel restrictions in Europe and a lack of clarity over the short – and medium-term future are not only delaying a return to normality, but are hindering airlines’ efforts to provide reliable flight programs. Despite the challenges, however, Helvetic Airways has teamed up with tour operator partners Hotelplan Suisse and Universal to offer an attractive selection of air services to Mediterranean leisure destinations for the summer months.

Focus on Greece and Spain

The Greek island of Kos will receive weekly Saturday charter flights from Zurich. The third biggest island in the Dodecanese Archipelago, Kos is famed for its villages, mountains, ancient ruins and magnificent beaches. Summer Saturday flights will also be offered to a second Greek destination: Heraklion. The capital of Crete, which is particularly renowned for i ts delightful Old Town, will be served from both Zurich and Bern.

Mallorca, one of Europe’s most popular vacation destinations, will be served every Sunday by Helvetic Airways over the summer months. Anyone seeking sun, sand, culture and good food will be well at home in Palma and its surrounds. Flights to this largest of the Balearic Islands will be offered from Zurich and Bern.

The services will be operated with Helvetic Airways’ Embraer E190-E2 aircraft. With its impressive low-noise and ecofriendly credentials, this state-of-the-art 110-seat twinjet is the flagship of the Helvetic Airways fleet.

2021 summer schedules (all times local)*

Flight no. Between And Frequency From Departure To Arrival
2L 7310 10. July 21 23. October 21 Saturdays ZRH 08:40 KGS 12:40
2L 7311 10. July 21 23. October 21 Saturdays KGS 13:25 ZRH 15:55
2L 7300 10. July 21 23. October 21 Saturdays ZRH 07:30 HER 11:20
2L 5301 10. July 21 23. October 21 Saturdays HER 12:05 BRN 14:10
2L 5300 10. July 21 23. October 21 Saturdays BRN 14:50 HER 18:35
2L 7301 10. July 21 23. October 21 Saturdays HER 19:20 ZRH 21:30
2L 24 11. July 21 17. October 21 Sundays ZRH 09:00 PMI 10:45
2L 23 11. July 21 17. October 21 Sundays PMI 11:30 BRN 13:10
2L 22 11. July 21 17. October 21 Sundays BRN 13:55 PMI 15:50
2L 25 11. July 21 17. October 21 Sundays PMI 16:35 ZRH 18:25

* subject to change

In other news, Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) has put an Embraer E190-E2 full flight simulator into operation at its Zurich training location.

This has created the best conditions for LAT to expand its partnership with Helvetic Airways and other customers with a complete onsite solution for the training of flight and cabin crews. The simulator is operated by LAT Switzerland AG in cooperation with Flight Safety International (FSI) from Tulsa/Oklahoma. This includes the provision of the equipment by FSI and the provision of the training service by LAT Switzerland for a full flight simulator, a procedure trainer and an advanced doortrainer.

As part of Helvetic Airways’ current fleet renewal, the Embraer E190-E2 aircraft type plays a central role. With its new, more aerodynamic design and latest-generation engines, the E2 consumes significantly less kerosene. Fuel consumption per seat is around 17 percent lower. Compared with its predecessor, the E1, the E2 emits 3,600 metric tons less carbon dioxide per year. The new wings and engines also significantly reduce noise levels in the cabin.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkgMLvQe__E&w=560&h=315%5D

Eight E2 aircraft have now entered service with Helvetic Airways. Four more will follow by the end of the summer. Together with four remaining E1 aircraft, Helvetic Airways’ fleet will then comprise a total of 16 Embraer aircraft. Most recently, the Embraer E1 type replaced the Fokker 100 aircraft and has since already contributed to a 20% fuel saving per route.

The cooperation with Lufthansa Aviation Training in pilot training dates back to the integration of the Embraer E190 at Helvetic Airways in 2014. It includes an average of 1,500 hours of simulator time per year as well as the rental of training equipment in the area of so-called Emergency and Safety Equipment Training (ESET).

Top Copyright Photo: Helvetic Airways Embaer ERJ 190-E2 (ERJ 190-300 STD) HB-AZC (msn 19020030) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 949465.

Helvetic Airways aircraft slide show:

Helvetic Airways to convert four of their remaining firm orders to the larger E195-E2

Helvetic Airways has signed a commitment with Embraer to convert four of their remaining firm orders to the larger E195-E2 aircraft. The original order, for 12 E190-E2s with purchase rights for a further 12, and conversion rights to E195-E2, was announced in September 2018.

Embraer has so far delivered five E190-E2s to Helvetic Airways, and all deliveries of the remaining seven aircraft, including the four E195-E2s, will be completed before the end of 2021, with the majority in the first half of 2021.

The remaining firm order for the seven aircraft to be delivered has a value of USD $480 million, based on current list prices. With all the purchase rights being exercised, the deal has a list price of USD 1.25 billion. In a move to diversify fleet capacity, Helvetic Airways will configure the E195-E2 with 134 seats in a single class layout, while their E190-E2s have 110 seats.

The new E195-E2 provides greater capacity, whilst being more sustainable and quiet; the E195-E2 burns 10% less fuel per flight, emits 30% less CO2 per passenger, and is 48% quieter than the E190 aircraft it replaces in Helvetic’s fleet.

Helvetic Airways aircraft photo gallery:

Helvetic Airways aircraft slide show:

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=4Hv4mS&speed=3&transition=fade&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&transitionSpeed=2

 

Embraer’s 1,600th E-Jet delivered to Helvetic Airways sets a new distance record

The delivery of the 1,600th e-Jet to Helvetic Airways set a new distance record for an E-Jet.

The pictured E190-E2 for Helvetic Airways landed in Zürich after flying 9 hours 10 minutes (7,488km/4,043nm) nonstop from Natal.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Embraer): Helvetic Airways Embaer ERJ 190-E2 (ERJ 190-300 STD) HB-AZE (msn 19020038) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 950550.

Helvetic Airways aircraft slide show:

https://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/frame/slideshow?key=4Hv4mS&speed=3&transition=fade&autoStart=1&captions=0&navigation=0&playButton=0&randomize=0&transitionSpeed=2

Embraer’s 1,600th E-Jet delivered to Helvetic Airways

Embraer celebrated on July 1, 2020 the delivery of its 1,600th E-Jet, an E190-E2. Helvetic Airways of Switzerland received the milestone aircraft. Airlines and leasing companies from some 50 countries have added Embraer E-Jets to their fleets since the first-generation jets entered revenue service in 2004. The new, highly fuel-efficient second-generation E-Jets family, the E2s, started flying with airlines in 2018.

Helvetic Airways is currently transitioning from a fleet of first-generation E-Jets to E2s. The carrier received its first E190-E2 in October 2019 and has added four more since as part of its fleet renewal program. Helvetic flies the airplanes in a 110-seat single-class configuration on domestic and international routes. The carrier has firm orders for 12 E190-E2s and purchase rights for a further 12 E190-E2s with conversion rights to the E195-E2, bringing the total potential order to 24 E2 aircraft.

Photo: Embraer.

FlyBAIR to launch operations on May 2, 2020

FlyBAIR has announced it will launch scheduled passenger operations on May 2, 2020. The first route will be from Bern, Switzerland to Palma de Mallorca.

This will be followed by three other destinations also starting in May:

Bern – Mahon – May 10

Bern – Olbia May 12

Bern – Jerez de la Fontera

Helvetic Airways will operate its Embraer 190 aircraft for the new carrier in FlyBAIR markings.

Planned routes from Bern: