The airline Swiss currently expects that around 2021 percent of the capacity of 50 can be offered in summer 2019. However, the “resumption of intercontinental connections, especially those to the USA”, explained the Chairman of the Board of Directors Reto Francioni to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung.

Swiss will decide in March 2021 whether the current model needs to be adjusted. Then you can estimate how the booking situation will be for the summer of 2021. “If, contrary to expectations, the situation does not improve noticeably, we would not be able to avoid layoffs either. But we are confident that by then, instead of entry restrictions and quarantine regulations, rapid tests and vaccinations will give travelers security again, ”Francioni told the NZZ. “We estimate it will be until 2024. The volume of traffic is then expected to still be lower than before the pandemic. But this virus is unpredictable; we have to fly on sight, so to speak. "

The Lufthansa subsidiary is currently planning to reduce its workforce by 1.000 within two years. According to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, this should mainly be achieved through a hiring freeze, fluctuation, early retirement and part-time work. Francioni is confident about the NZZ: “The performance of the employees in recent months has been extraordinary. I am therefore very confident that we will not only be able to weather this crisis well, but also to play a strong role in the 'new normal'. A vaccination requirement for passengers, on the other hand, is “currently not an issue for Swiss”. However, this could come indirectly via entry regulations that could be issued by the respective government. “In a transition phase, corona rapid tests would be an important measure for us. International harmonization would also be central, at least within Europe. This would accelerate the recovery ”, the Swiss board chairman told NZZ.

When asked about possible additional state aid, Reto Francioni said that, as things stand today, it could be ruled out that additional funding must be requested in Bern. But: “At the same time, negative surprises can never be completely ruled out, as we saw this year. The liquidity position will therefore remain sufficient for the time being. And we are absolutely convinced that we can repay the loan. " At the end of 2020, around one billion Swiss francs were still available from the loan.