The airline was founded on 19 October 1995 in Bassersdorf, Switzerland, with just one aircraft, a McDonnell Douglas MD-83. The company's name is derived from the Swiss unofficial national flower, the Edelweiss, which is also painted on its aircraft.
The fleet was subsequently expanded and renewed. In 1998, new Airbus A320-200s were introduced to replace the MD-83s, and in 1999 long-haul flights were commenced using the Airbus A330-200.
For seven consecutive years between 2001 and 2008, Edelweiss Air received the golden Travelstar Award for its achievements.[5]
Until November 2008, Edelweiss Air was wholly owned by Kuoni Travel and had 190 employees,[6] when the operating rights were sold to Swiss International Air Lines, in exchange for sale rights of hotel capacities via the Swiss sales network. Following Swiss International Air Lines being acquired by the German Lufthansa Group in 2005, Edelweiss Air also became a subsidiary of Europe's largest airline group at the same time it was acquired by Swiss.[7]
Developments since 2010
In March 2011, Edelweiss Air added the larger Airbus A330-300 to its fleet, with an order having been placed on 5 April 2010.[8] In July 2015, it was announced that Edelweiss would receive four Airbus A340-300s between 2017 and 2018 previously operated by its parent Swiss International Air Lines. The aircraft were used to expand the route network.[9]
On 6 January 2025, Edelweiss Air through a media release announced that the airline will discontinue flights to Havana, Cuba due to declining demand of passengers and the unexpected current conditions at Jose Marti International Airport. The last flight from Zurich to Havana and back to the Swiss city will be on 27 February 2025.[13]
Destinations
As of August 2024[update], Edelweiss Air flies (or has flown) to the following destinations:[14]
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