SWISS First Wins Best Seat Design Award

Swiss International Air Lines Ltd., captured the Best Seat Design Award for SWISS First as announced recently by Global Traveler magazine in its seventh consecutive year of the GT Tested Reader Survey drawing from more than 25,000 frequent and luxury travelers worldwide.

“We’re delighted to be there, of course. To earn this award for the second year running is not just an honor and a reward for our continuous investments in our First Class product; it’s an incentive to maintain these endeavors, too,” said Markus Binkert, SWISS Managing Director of Product and Services. “Our First Class is a cornerstone of the SWISS product range. Needless to say, it’s also an area in which we attach paramount importance to offering top-quality service – as one would expect from a Swiss-based airline. The feedback we receive from our US customers is especially vital to us here,” Binkert said.

Martin Massueger Director, Head of Sales Middle East, Africa, Pakistan and Iran for Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), said:  “This award validates our resolve to offer our customers the best products available.  With our SWISS First, travellers get to enjoy the premium comfort, privacy and spaciousness that they deserve.”

The Global Traveler survey is an open-ended survey of its readers done to determine the best in 62 travel-related categories. The survey was conducted from January 1, 2010 to August 31, 2010. “The success of the GT Tested Reader Survey has been staggering,” said Francis X. Gallagher, publisher and CEO of Global Traveler. “Each year, more and more responses are received. Our readers certainly value the airlines, hotels and products they honor year after year,” said Gallagher.

In 2009, SWISS first introduced the new First Class cabin in conjunction with its fleet renewal program. The new SWISS First seat offers an exclusive design, superb comfort, and extensive privacy. The seat can be reclined at the touch of a button into a totally lie-flat bed that is more than six feet long. It is also equipped with a down-filled duvet, and incorporates an innovative pneumatic air cushion that can be adjusted to individual preferences in any seating position. Further extras include a 23-inch (currently the world’s biggest) inflight entertainment screen, and generous work surfaces and storage facilities.

Spacious surroundings and adjustable sidewalls contribute to passenger privacy, while sophisticated lighting and the contemporary-yet-warm SWISS design combine to create a pleasant sense of space. There is also an ottoman that can be used as a guest seat, complete with backrest and armrests, enabling the First Class passenger to dine or work with a fellow traveler at a generously-proportioned table.

New for 2011 will be further improvements to the SWISS premium cabin. “We’ll be unveiling further First Class product and service enhancements as well as having a SWISS First cabin aboard every single aircraft of our long-haul fleet,” Binkert said.

SWISS operates daily flights from Muscat and non-stop daily flights from Dubai to Zurich connecting passengers to over 70 destinations in 39 countries in its winter schedule.
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Swiss International Air Lines
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is Switzerland’s national airline. The company currently employs over 7 400 personnel and has its head office in Basel.

With its 87-aircraft fleet, SWISS serves over 70 destinations in 39 countries.  As Switzerland’s national airline, SWISS embodies the country’s classic values of “Swiss hospitality”, “quality in every detail” and “personal attention and care”: anyone flying SWISS should always feel at home.

As part of the Lufthansa Group, SWISS is dedicated to fulfilling its mission of serving as a quality airline which links Switzerland with the rest of Europe and key points beyond. SWISS is also a member of Star Alliance, the world’s biggest airline grouping.

SWISS is committed long-term and at various levels to ensuring the sparing use of resources. The company has long maintained a responsible attitude towards the environment, and regards this as a cornerstone of its corporate culture.