Swissair to present October flight plan

Beleaguered airline Swissair will this weekend outline its definitive flight plan up to October 28, company spokesman Mr Andre…

Beleaguered airline Swissair will this weekend outline its definitive flight plan up to October 28, company spokesman Mr Andre Dose told the Swiss news agency Agence Telegraphique Suisse.

He said the 450 million Swiss francs given on Wednesday by the government will not be enough to keep all of Swissair's planes in the skies up to the end of October, when some of the flights will be taken over by Crossair.

Swissair, quasi-bankrupt and humiliated by the grounding of its aircraft and stranding of passengers earlier this week was only able to take to the skies again with the state lifeline.

From October 28 when the loan runs out, the 70-year-old Swissair, saddled with around 16 billion Swiss francs (10.8 billion euros) in debt, will transfer two thirds of its flight operations to Crossair.

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Dose said the frequency of some routes served by several daily flights would be reduced. Unprofitable flights for which there is low demand will also be axed, he said.

Swissair will not fly to Brussels because it fears its aircraft will be seized, due to its participation in bankrupt carrier Sabena. Flights will, nevertheless, continue towards France, where Swissair has a stake in AOM-Air Liberte.

AFP