Swiss achieved a sharp increase in the number of passengers carried in the first nine months of 2006. Compared to the same period a year ago, the number of passengers rose by 7.1% to more than 7.8 million. The average seat load factor (SLF) for the full route network was 79.8%, compared to 79.1% for the same period last year (+0.7 percentage points). On intercontinental routes, the SLF in the first nine months stabilised at a high level of 83.8% (previous year 85%).

In Europe the SLF increased by 4.7 percentage points to 71.5%.

In September 2006 SWISS achieved an SLF of 83.2% (previous year: 82.2%). The airline carried 941,632 passengers, which translates into a strong gain of 9 per cent over the same month a year ago.

At 86%, the SLF on intercontinental routes in September 2006 was down by 1.4 percentage points from level of 87.4% for the same month a year earlier. While capacity (available seat kilometres /ASK) was increased by 7% on a year-ago comparison, sales volume (revenue passenger kilometres /RPK) increased by 5.4% for the same period.

On European routes SWISS raised its SLF in September by 6 percentage points to 77.3% (previous year: 71.3%). A 4.6% increase in capacity (available seat kilometres /ASK) was more than matched by a 13.3% increase in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK).

The airline’s cargo business, which is conducted by Swiss WorldCargo, remained steady overall at a high level in the first nine months of 2006, with a freight load factor of 84.6% (previous year 85.9%).

Key figures for SWISS scheduled services January - September 2006 / 2005

2006—- 2005—- Diff.

Passengers carried 7 852 840—- 7 329 983—- +7.1%

Flights operated 93 138—- 102 670—-  -9.3%

Available seat kilometers 20 542—- 19 781—- +3.8% (million)

Revenue passenger kilometers 16 401—- 15 640—- +4.9% (million)

Seat load factor 79.8%—- 79.1%—-  +0.7 pt.

Swiss won Europe’s Leading Airline, Europe’s Leading Business Class Airline and World’s Leading Economy Class honours at this year’s World Travel Awards gala ceremony in the Turks and Caicos.
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