Swiss International Airlines Takes Delivery of Their First Airbus A350-900
- Joe Breitfeller
- Oct 10
- 3 min read
Airbus has today announced that SWISS has taken delivery of their first of ten Airbus A350-900s on order. This state-of-the-art widebody twin-jet is set to become the carrier’s flagship aircraft.
On Friday (October 10, 2025), Airbus announced that Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has taken delivery of their first of ten Airbus A350-900s as part of their fleet renewal program. The aircraft, registration HB-IFA, touched down at Zurich Airport on Thursday (October 9th) at 15:25, and was greeted with a traditional water cannon salute. The A350-900 will become the carrier’s flagship aircraft and will be operated on long-haul routes from Zurich to destinations such as Boston. SWISS’ new A350-900 features a unique ‘Wanderlust’ livery and is also the carrier’s first long-haul aircraft to be equipped with the new SWISS Senses cabin. The cabin is configured in a four-class layout with three suites, up to four seats in First Class, 45 seats in Business, 38 in Premium Economy, and 156 in Economy. By 2031, ten Airbus A350 aircraft are scheduled to join the SWISS fleet.
In a separate press release published on Thursday afternoon (October 9th), SWISS’ CEO, Jens Fehlinger, said,
“Today is a great day for us. With our Airbus A350, we’re transporting our customers into a new era of long-haul air travel. This aircraft represents everything we aim to be moving forward: efficient, advanced, and clearly positioned as a premium airline, from Switzerland and for Switzerland. With the A350 we’re taking a huge leap forward – technologically, ecologically, and in terms of our passengers’ inflight experience. It’s a very special thing to welcome a brand-new aircraft with a completely new cabin – something that will probably happen only once in anyone’s airline career. And it’s fascinating to see just how much progress and how much precision are embodied in this aircraft.”
Also commenting on the milestone aircraft delivery, SWISS’ Chief Commercial Officer, Heike Birlenbach, said,
“With our new SWISS Senses cabin, we’re bringing new levels of comfort and quality to the air travel world. For our guests this means more space, a more relaxing ambience, and a more individual air travel experience, from the light above the seat to the entire inflight service. Our new Airbus A350 stands for ‘premium’ as we understand it: modern, individual and hallmarked by a service that is attentive, personal and typically Swiss.”
Initially, SWISS will operate their first new Airbus A350 on short-haul flights within Europe, enabling pilots to complete their practical training on the new twinjet as efficiently as possible. The first A350 passenger revenue flight has been scheduled from Zurich to Palma de Mallorca on October 25, 2025, while the first long-haul service will be to Boston on November 20, 2025. As previously mentioned, this will also be the first SWISS service to operate with both the new SWISS Senses cabin and the recently introduced new long-haul inflight service.
Arrival of SWISS’ First A350-900, Registration HB-IFA, at Zurich Airport on Thursday October 9, 2025 – Courtesy SWISS
The Airbus A350’s all-new design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. With new generation engines and the use of lightweight materials, the A350-900 delivers 25 percent reduction in fuel burn, operating costs and CO₂ emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft. The A350-900 is also equipped with the comfortable and spacious Airspace cabin, wide seats, high ceilings and variable ambient lighting. Like all in-production Airbus aircraft, the A350 aircraft is already able to operate with up to 50 percent SAF, and Airbus is targeting to have their aircraft up to 100 percent SAF capable by 2030.
At September 30, 2025, the Airbus A350 Family had won over 1,400 orders from 63 customers worldwide.
Source(s): Airbus, Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS)
