SWISS’ first Airbus A350 arrived in Boston on Thursday, marking the aircraft’s first long-haul revenue flight.
The A350-900, registered as HB-IFA and nicknamed “Lausanne,” departed from Zurich and touched down at Boston Logan around 8:30 p.m. local time.
SWISS leaders said that, in addition to the Zurich-Boston service, the aircraft will continue to operate short-haul flights within Europe so air crews can train with the type. Montreal will be the A350’s second long-haul destination.
HB-IFA is the first aircraft in SWISS’ fleet to come fully fitted with the carrier’s new design concept, known as SWISS Senses. The layout incorporates a dark red-gray-beige color scheme, ergonomic lighting, and entertainment systems with larger screens.
The SWISS Senses first-class cabin comes with suites with sliding privacy doors, a wardrobe, a table, and fully lie-flat seats, as well as expanded food and drink options and amenity kits.
Thursday was the first time that transatlantic travelers had access to the SWISS Senses cabins.
“Our new Airbus A350 marks the next step in our development, in technological, commercial, and guest experience terms,” SWISS CEO Jens Fehlinger said in a news release. “It’s quieter, more efficient, and more comfortable than any other aircraft we have operated to date. Investments of this kind don’t just sharpen our own competitive edge – they consolidate Switzerland’s place, too, in the air travel world.”
HB-IFA was delivered in October and operated its first flight, from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca, Spain, later that month. It has since been used on short-haul flights to Prague, Düsseldorf and Hanover in Germany, and Málaga, Spain.
SWISS will take delivery of nine more A350s through 2031. All will come with the SWISS Senses cabins installed.
