Swiss International Air Lines, the national carrier of Switzerland, is in full gear with its ongoing investments in products and services and chose the Middle East to be the second market to receive the all-new A330-300 aircraft fitted with the latest innovations in seats and inflight entertainment this coming June. SWISS, named the ‘Best Airline: Europe” for its short- and long-haul flights by the prestigious Skytrax 2009, is showcasing the A330-300's new SWISS Business Seat at the Arabian Travel Market, Stand 460 Euro Pavillion. Marcel Biedermann, managing director, head of Intercontinental Markets of Swiss International Air Lines, said: “SWISS has a total investments of well over CHF1 billion ($878 million) for the nine new Airbus A330-300's and we expect to raise the airline's earning capacity by replacing nine smaller aircraft of the present Airbus A330-200 fleet. The first of the new A330-300 took off from Zurich to New York last April and the second aircraft is due to arrive in Dubai come June. We expect complete delivery by 2011. Also, the new aircrafts will reduce SWISS's CO2 emissions by around 13 percent.” “SWISS is on a quality drive to strengthen its position in the premium segment. Investments made since 2004 helped SWISS to build new lounges, improve inflight products and services in premium classes; eventually provide new three-class product on entire intercontinental fleet - the only airline in the world to offer a First Class cabin on all its long-haul aircraft,” he added. “We are proud to be the recipient of the second A330-300 as it underlines the importance of the Middle East market for Swiss International Air Lines. Passengers are assured of unique Swiss hospitality and comfort with the new features of the A330-300 as it offers top-calibre product in First, Business and Economy class,” said Martin Massüger, director, Head of Sales Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Iran for SWISS. SWISS is the first airline to offer the revolutionary air comfort system to passengers enabling individual settings of whether to have a firmness of a futon or softness of a waterbed. The air cushion is placed in all body-contact areas such as backrest, seat-cushion and leg-rest. The air cushion enables seat weight reduction, leading to lower fuel consumption for the A330
