Swiss carries record number of passengers

January 12, 2011

In 2010 Swiss transported more than 14 million passengers in one year for the first time in its history. A total of 14 168 718 flew with SWISS, an increase of 2.8% compared to the previous year (2009: 13 783 632). The increase in production (plus 4.4% available seat kilometres) was fully absorbed by the market. The seat load factor (SLF) for the year was 82.3% (2009: 80.1%), a company record for capacity utilisation in one year. The number of flights operated increased moderately, by 3.6% to 141 405 in 2010.

On intercontinental routes SWISS was able to raise SLF from 83.2% in 2009 to a record 86.8% in 2010. Revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rose by 9.5% against a 4.9% increase in available seat kilometres (ASK).

In Europe, capacity in terms of available seat kilometres (ASK) was 3.4% higher on a year-on-year comparison. Revenue seat kilometres increased by 2.6%. The SLF remained practically unchanged at 73.5% (2009: 74.1%).

In the cargo sector, Swiss WorldCargo achieved a marked increase in volume-based freight load factor in 2010: the relevant value for the year stood at 81.1%, no fewer than 10.4 percentage points higher than for the previous year (2009: 70.7%). Cargo tonne kilometres sold climbed by 21.4%.

In December seat load factor and the number of passengers carried remained at the level of the previous year despite numerous flight cancellations due to adverse winter weather. In the last month of 2010 a total of 1 126 551 passengers flew withSwiss (December 2009: 1 137 014). The seat load factor for the month was 80.8% (2009: 81.0%). At 82.9%, the cargo load factor for December was also just slightly down on a year-ago comparison (December 2009: 84.1%).

Source: Swiss