Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is set to commence the training of its pilots for the upcoming Airbus A350, marking a key milestone in the airline’s fleet modernization. The airline has announced that pilot training will begin in early February, with over 50 cockpit crew members expected to be trained on the new twinjet by the end of 2025. This training will be conducted using a newly installed Airbus A350 full-flight simulator at Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland (LAT CH) in Opfikon, near Zurich Airport.
The introduction of the Airbus A350-900 aircraft into SWISS’ fleet represents a significant upgrade. The first of ten A350s is scheduled for delivery this summer, and it will replace the airline’s aging Airbus A340-300 aircraft. The A350’s advanced features are expected to significantly enhance both operational efficiency and passenger comfort.
Oliver Buchhofer, SWISS’ Chief Operating Officer, expressed excitement over the addition of the new aircraft, stating, “The Airbus A350 marks another major milestone for us at SWISS. It underlines our commitment to investing in a state-of-the-art long-haul aircraft fleet and raises our efficiency and passenger comfort to new heights.”
The full-flight simulator at LAT CH will be available around the clock starting in February to ensure that SWISS pilots are fully trained and ready to operate the new aircraft. Over 50 pilots will undergo training this year, with an additional 90 pilots scheduled for training each year beginning in 2026.
In addition to pilot training, SWISS will also train around 1,800 cabin crew members for the Airbus A350 at LAT CH. The necessary training equipment and mock-ups for the cabin crew have already been installed.
The move to a modern fleet and the associated crew training are part of SWISS’ broader strategy to ensure top-tier service and operational efficiency as the airline continues to grow and evolve.