Helvetic Airways says farewell to its last Fokker 100
Following some commemorative activities at the departure gate, special flight 2L 100 departed for its farewell tour of Switzerland carrying several media representatives, Helvetic Airways employees and selected guests. On landing, the aircraft was also treated to a water salute by the airport fire service. The special flight’s carbon emissions were offset in full through a Swiss-based climate protection project of the myclimate foundation.
In the cockpit for the special flight were Captain (and Chief Operating Officer) Simon Schatzmann and Captain Sandra Dummermuth. “In all the years in which they have been in service with us, our Fokker 100s have proudly carried the Swiss national colours to all corners of Europe,” Simon Schatzmann said. “So it’s a very emotional moment to say farewell today to this icon of Swiss aviation.”
Some two decades ago, the Fokker 100 was a firm fixture in the aviation landscape, and the type was instrumental in ensuring Helvetic Airways’ success. The twinjets of the Dutch manufacturer have performed almost 180 000 flight hours and made 140 000 landings in Helvetic colours since the first of them arrived in November 2003. And the 89 300 000 kilometres they have flown are the equivalent of 116 round-trip journeys to the Moon. Thanks to the outstanding maintenance that they have received and their excellent technical condition, the aircraft will continue to be used for passenger services by another airline.
A new era
For two weeks now, Helvetic Airways has been operating a standardized fleet of eleven Embraer E190-E1 aircraft. From this autumn onwards, these will be supplemented by the first of twelve new Embraer E190-E2s. These state-of-the-art transports are roomier and quieter, and offer greater inflight comfort. They are also easier on the environment, consuming up to 20 per cent less fuel than comparable regional aircraft. In the medium-term future, Helvetic Airways will operate one of Europe’s most advanced regional aircraft fleets.
Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways provides a range of short- and medium-haul air services from various Swiss airports. The carrier deploys its Embraer E190-E2, E195-E2 and E190-E1 aircraft on scheduled, charter and wet-lease flights. At least six Helvetic Airways Embraer E190-E2s and E195-E2s are being operated in winter 2023/24 and summer 2024 on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines in summer 2023 under a long-term wet-lease agreement.
The Helvetic Airways workforce numbers over 510 employees. The company also has its own maintenance hangar and operation at Zurich Airport, which is further home to its corporate head office. The airline offers innovative part-time employment models to its cockpit and cabin personnel. For its cabin attendants these include ‘Ski&Fly’, ‘Fly&Study’ and the fully flexible ‘Fly your way’ model. Details of current vacancies at Helvetic will be found at career.helvetic.com.
Helvetic Airways has been working closely with Horizon Swiss Flight Academy AG (www.horizon-sfa.ch), which is based in Kloten, Switzerland, since 2008. Both companies are part of the Helvetic Airways Group, which is domiciled in Freienbach, Switzerland.
Contact for media inquiries:
Simon Benz
press@helvetic.com
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