SWISS achieved a record number of sales in 2024, the flag carrier airline has now revealed. Its annual figures also showed that SWISS and Edelweiss Air were vital in maintaining profits for the Lufthansa Group, with revenues at the German airline falling precipitously last year.

SWISS improves sales and punctuality in 2024

In a statement, SWISS confirmed that it sold 5,6 billion francs worth of tickets in 2024, 6 percent more than the year before and a new record for the airline. However, due to expansion and increased salary and maintenance costs, the airline only had its second best year in terms of net profit, making 684 million francs.

In total, the airline carried 18 million passengers to and from Swiss airports across the year, an increase of 9,2 percent compared to 2023. Punctuality - a bug bear for the airline in recent years - also improved, with 65 percent of services landing within 15 minutes of their allocated arrival time. However, it remains below the airline’s target of 70 percent.

Lufthansa relies on SWISS for profits

Interestingly, commentators noted that were it not for SWISS and holiday airline Edelweiss Air, 2024 would have been an annus horribilis for the Lufthansa Group as a whole. Net profits at the group dropped to 1,53 billion francs in 2024, with Lufthansa itself posting a net loss of 90 million francs.

In fact, SWISS and Edelweiss were responsible for nearly half the group’s profits last year - the group also includes Lufthansa, Austrian and Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and a share of ITA Airways. The fact that it was bought by Lufthansa in 2005 for just 325 million francs has led local media to call SWISS a “cash cow” for the German airline.

SWISS make more than double per passenger compared to Lufthansa

This status came about due to the purchasing power of people in Switzerland. Last year, 89 percent of business and 79 percent of first class seats on SWISS were filled. On average, SWISS make 38 francs per passenger, while Edelweiss makes 27 francs - by comparison, the average for the whole group is just 12 francs.

Speaking to Blick, SWISS CEO Jens Fehrlinger assured that its profits would not be going to Lufthansa, adding that it would be spending its windfall on improving service and punctuality. He added that membership of the Lufthansa Group remains highly beneficial and that SWISS’ profits make it a big and influential voice within the organisation.

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