In September 2023, SWISS’ leisure subsidiary, Edelweiss Air, announced plans to completely overhaul its long haul fleet. There’s now an exciting update, as the first of these jets has landed in Zurich, and will be entering service in the coming weeks. Let’s cover all the details.
In this post:
Edelweiss modernizing fleet with Airbus A350s
Up until now, Zurich-based Edelweiss Air has had a fleet of 18 aircraft, including 13 Airbus A320s and five Airbus A340-300s. The carrier has an average fleet age of around 20 years, and is working on modernizing its fleet. Edelweiss Air is now in the process of taking delivery of six Airbus A350-900s, which will replace the carrier’s five Airbus A340-300s:
- The first A350-900 has joined the fleet as of March 2025; this is a five-year-old jet with the registration code HB-IHF
- By 2027, all existing A340-300s will be retired
- With this fleet renewal, Edelweiss’ long haul fleet size will be restored to pre-coronavirus levels
- Edelweiss is acquiring A350-900s that used to fly for LATAM, as the airline retired these aircraft during the pandemic; Delta also flies some ex-LATAM A350-900s
- These A350s aren’t part of the Lufthansa Group’s overall A350 order, as the airline has dozens of those jets on order
Here’s how Edelweiss Air CEO Bernd Bauer describes this fleet renewal:
“The modernisation of the long-haul fleet is a milestone in Edelweiss’ almost 30-year history. Edelweiss will thus operate one of the youngest long-haul fleets in Europe from 2026.”
“The design of the Airbus A350-900 sets new standards in efficiency with state-of-the-art technologies and outstanding aerodynamics. It is one of the most environmentally friendly long-haul aircraft in the world. Latest generation engines and the use of lightweight materials make the twin-engine Airbus A350-900 one of the most fuel-efficient wide-body aircraft. It consumes 25 per cent less fuel and produces 25 per cent less CO2 than the four-engine Airbus A340-300, and noise emissions are up to 50 per cent lower.”
I’ve gotta say, I’ve always been a fan of Edelweiss’ livery, and I think it looks absolutely gorgeous on the Airbus A350!
Edelweiss Airbus A350 cabins & interiors
What should we expect from the interiors of Edelweiss’ Airbus A350s? For the first four aircraft, Edelweiss will initially just offer the same product that LATAM used to offer on these planes, with slight modifications to the branding. That means the plane will feature 339 seats, including:
- 30 fully flat business class seats, in a 2-2-2 configuration
- 63 extra legroom economy seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration
- 246 economy class seats, in a 3-3-3 configuration
All seats will have personal entertainment, plus USB outlets. Unfortunately the aircraft won’t feature Wi-Fi, though, at least initially.
Eventually Edelweiss plans to introduce new cabins on its A350s, representing an investment that’s “a three-digit million sum.” Edelweiss is claiming not to be initially reconfiguring these aircraft “due to worldwide material shortages and reduced maintenance & engineering capacities.”
For what it’s worth, Edelweiss’ A340-300s currently have a staggered configuration in business class, almost identical to what you’ll find on SWISS’ A340-300s. For a leisure airline, it’s also noteworthy that Edelweiss doesn’t have a premium economy cabin. I can’t help but think that this will be added in the future when new interiors are introduced.
I’m kind of going to miss Edelweiss’ very unusual A340-300 configuration. The airline puts business class between extra legroom economy and economy, which you don’t often see.
Edelweiss Airbus A350 routes & entry into service
So, when should we expect the Edelweiss Airbus A350 to enter commercial service? The aircraft will begin operating select intra-Europe flights as of April 2025, for crew familiarization (the schedule is pretty scattered, as the plane will serve nearly a dozen destinations).
Then we can expect long haul service to start several weeks later:
- As of May 15, 2025, Edelweiss will fly the plane between Zurich (ZRH) and Las Vegas (LAS)
- As of July 1, 2025, Edelweiss will fly the plane between Zurich (ZRH) and Vancouver (YVR)
- As of the winter 2025-2026 season, we’ll see the plane add service to several more destinations, with varying schedules
Bottom line
Edelweiss Air is refreshing and growing its long haul fleet, as the airline is replacing its five Airbus A340-300s with six Airbus A350-900s. You can expect the aircraft to join Edelweiss’ fleet in 2025 and 2026, and for all A340s to be retired by 2027.
These A350s will initially feature former LATAM interiors, and at some point in the future, the airline claims to be investing in new cabins. Edelweiss’ first A350 destinations from Zurich will be Las Vegas and Vancouver. The airline has now taken delivery of its first A350, so that’s an exciting milestone for the carrier.
What do you make of Edelweiss acquiring Airbus A350s?
@ Ben Schlappig
Do you think the a350s will come to Tampa
Would love to see it as a Tampa based flyer
Why doesn't LATAM want these planes back, themselves?
It was a small fleet when they had it, barely 15 aircraft. Only their Brazilian subsidiary had it.
The capacity of 339 seats also slots slightly above their B787-9 303.
They figured that any route the A350 can do, the B787-9 can also do it a bit more efficiently and profitably.
The aircrafts was also acquired when they were separate entities. TAM Brazil had A350-900 and B777-300ER, LAN Chile was with B767-300ER and B787.
I loved my flight on the throne seat in first row business, especially because the flight attendant did not want to waste 2 glasses of champagne, as she returned to the galley. She rather let me have them. 8-)
Last year I flew DEN-ZRH on an A320 in J. The mid cabin and seat layout was unusual to say the least.
Privacy was minimal, service mediocre at best …. all in all, a flight one choses to forget.
Sorry Edelweiss.
CORRECTION
For A320 read A340, it has been a long day.
Here's to hoping LX will eventually takeover the DEN-ZRH route.
Yes, that would work better for many, especially if they task an A350 with F.
"The airline puts business class between extra legroom economy and economy, which you don’t often see."
I actually surprised that we don't see more of this. In theory, it helps with balance, so that you don't have to trim the aircraft as much during cruise, and thus save fuel via the reduced drag.
Edelweiss did this because it inherited old SWISS planes and removed the old first class. Rather than rip up half the interior to move biz seats to the front, it put economy in the front and left biz where it was.
The reason for this is that the doors 3L/R3 (counted from the front) in the A340 are significantly smaller (Swiss ordered the A340 in that way). For safety reasons (evacuation) the number of seats between doors 2 and 3 is limited. For the Edelweiss configuration, this means that Business must be located between these doors in order to bring the number of seats below the number permitted for this zone. This would not be possible with pure Coach seating in this area.
LATAM A359s used to have very good Safran economy seats - I suppose one of the best seats you can find in A350 worldwide. I suspect that Edelweiss with its "megainvestment" will install shitty Recaro CL3710 instead. May we ask WK not to touch JJ's seats, just replace upholstery if needed?
9volt
We booked last month for this summer through Air Canada. Flying MXP to YVR via Zurich for 70k points each for wife and I. Friend also booked same route flying a week earlier. We found availability through points.me
Yay LHG!
Lucky, can you post a write up on best ways to book Edelweiss awards? Best websites to search availability, which mileage currencies are optimal, etc. It seems Edelweiss awards (especially in J) are pretty elusive and Google searches turn up minimal information.