SWISS suspends Geneva to New York operation till late-March 2021

SWISS has supposedly suspended regular services between Geneva and New York until March 28. Reservation for services through till the end of the winter season 2020/2021 is not possible, according to its website.

SWISS International Airlines Airbus A330-300 departing London Heathrow bound for Switzerland. Photo by Karam Sodhi | AeroNewsX

Code-share partner United Airlines continues to operate flights between Geneva and New York (Newark, EWR) with reservation still available for the winter season, although that is of course subject to change as the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve. Currently, however, United's flights between the Swiss city and Newark are suspended. The last scheduled service was in March.

SWISS' flights between Geneva and New York JFK are temporarily suspended as a result of the coronavirus crisis, which has brought travel demand to record lows. The last regular scheduled flight with SWISS connecting the cities was on 13 March operated by an Airbus A330-300 registered HB-JHD. Indeed, the coronavirus has pushed airlines across the globe to re-evaluate their expansion plans, pushing back new aircraft deliveries, route launches and service increases.

When asked by AeroNewsX, a SWISS spokesperson confirmed the carrier wasn't currently operating services between the two cities but advised that its winter schedule would be communicated in mid-September. The timetable will also include the carrier's decision in what regards its flights to JFK - also comprising those from Geneva.

The pandemic has led to a significant amount of excess capacity, prompting airlines to reconsider their fleet plans and indeed accelerate aircraft withdrawals. In the last couple of months, we've seen capacity-heavy aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 withdrawn for at least a couple of years or even permanently.

While SWISS International Airlines itself has not announced any fixed changes to its current aircraft numbers, its parent company, the Lufthansa Group, had previously revealed that the group as a whole will be slashing its fleet size by 100 aircraft. SWISS has, however, admitted it deferred deliveries of short and medium-haul aircraft it has on order and is "further considering withdrawing older aircraft earlier than planned."

SWISS had, in late-June, announced its updated schedule through till 24 October, which saw no sign of the Geneva to New York route. The airline did, however, detail the resumption of select short and medium haul flights from Geneva and a range of flights from its Zurich hub.