It’s immediately clear that this is no ordinary aircraft. The Swiss Airbus A350-900 (reg. HB-IFA, named Lausanne) is a flying art gallery promoting its home country. The distinctive livery is the work of local artist Frederic Siegel, whose images aim to portray Switzerland as a creative and playful country full of unique stories. You can judge for yourself, including on flights from Prague. During this winter season, the new long-haul aircraft is being deployed on routes from Zurich as part of crew training.
So, what adorns the fuselage of this Swiss A350? Besides the mandatory “SWISS” inscription and the iconic Swiss cross, there are nine visuals representing selected Swiss cities: Basel, Bern, Zurich, Locarno, Lucerne, Montreux, St. Moritz, Wengen, and Geneva. This aircraft not only flies but also tells many stories of Switzerland.
Basel – The visual referencing Switzerland’s cultural capital recalls the annual Art Basel show, held here since 1970. During this event, artworks by thousands of artists from around the world converge on Basel. The image also includes the Basel Messe building, the famous Tinguely Fountain, and the ferry that connects the banks of the Rhine River.
Bern – The Swiss capital, with its historic center a UNESCO World Heritage site, is represented on the A350 by images of the iconic Federal Parliament building and two bears. The bear is Bern’s symbol, and numerous legends surround how the city acquired it. Also depicted is Böötle, a popular summer pastime for locals and tourists, involving floating on inflatable boats or mattresses down Swiss rivers. And, hinting that Bern is also a city of music is a musician playing the local musical instrument, the Hang.
Zurich – Arguably the most well-known Swiss city. Located on the shores of Lake Zurich, it is one of the wealthiest and most expensive cities in the world. On the A350, it is represented by the Romanesque Grossmünster church from the 12th century, said to have been founded by Charlemagne. This historical landmark is complemented by the architectural gem of the modern era, the Prime Tower. Built between 2008 and 2011, it was Switzerland’s tallest building for several years, standing at 126 meters.
Locarno – Located in southern Switzerland, this city hosts a famous film festival every summer. The Golden Leopard, the main prize of the competition and the festival’s logo, is depicted in the visual representing this city. It is complemented by buildings on the Piazza Grande, one of the venues where films are screened during the festival. This unique location features thousands of seats and one of the largest projection screens in the world.
Lucerne – Represents the true heart of Switzerland. Located on the shores of a lake, its most famous tourist attractions include the Chapel Bridge, the oldest covered wooden bridge in the world. This bridge is one of the central motifs of the Lucerne visual. It is complemented by the building of the Swiss Museum of Transport, an iconic steamboat cruising the local lake, and the cable car to Mount Rigi.
Montreux – This “Pearl of the Swiss Riviera,” as the city is often called, is world-renowned for its music and famous jazz festival. Freddie Mercury, who has a statue here, along with Chillon Castle, made it onto the Airbus A350 visual.
St. Moritz – This renowned mountain resort represents Swiss luxury and natural beauty in full measure. It is the oldest Swiss tourist destination. It has only five thousand inhabitants and has hosted the Winter Olympics twice. On the white fuselage of the Airbus A350, it is represented by riders on horseback on the frozen lake of the same name. Also depicted is the luxurious Badrutt’s Palace hotel, one of the most famous local buildings from the late nineteenth century, and the famous Glacier Express, which overcomes huge differences in altitude thanks to many bridges, viaducts, and tunnels, offering passengers breathtaking views.
Wengen – This legendary alpine resort is an important annual stop on the World Cup downhill skiing calendar. A skier descending the iconic Lauberhorn is the main motif of the Wengen visual. It is also complemented by the Schilthorn cable car and a paraglider, representing this mountain resort as a place dedicated to sporting pleasures in the summer as well.
Geneva – Located on the shores of Lake Geneva, this city has a high proportion of foreign residents, according to available statistics. The lake, with its iconic 140-meter-high Jet d’Eau water fountain, is the central motif of the visual. It is complemented by the Palais des Nations building, the seat of the United Nations in Switzerland, built between 1929 and 1938.
SWISS Sense: A NEW LEVEL OF TRAVEL
The new Airbus A350 of Swiss Airlines is one of ten aircraft of the same type that the airline is to receive over the next six years. This is an important step in the company’s history and a step into a new era of long-haul flights. According to company management, the aircraft is quieter, more economical and undoubtedly more comfortable than any aircraft in the existing SWISS fleet. The Airbus A350 made its first long-haul debut in the second half of November, connecting Zurich and Boston. And other destinations will soon follow, such as Montreal, Canada.
The new interior concept of the Swiss A350 is called SWISS Sense. Customers can choose one of four classes available on board: from the classic Economy Class, through Premium Economy, Business Class, to the iconic First class. The Airbus A350 can accommodate a total of 242 passengers (3 First Class, 45 Business Class, 38 Premium Economy, 156 Economy Class). By the end of the decade, all SWISS long-haul aircraft should offer the same level of luxury.
Source: Swiss
