It’s common knowledge that Switzerland is famous for its mountains, cheese and chocolate fondue, however, do you really know who owns Swiss Air? To make matters more complicated, Swiss Air has changed ownership at least five times in the last decade, so this question can feel like an ever-changing answer. Fortunately, today we’ll be shedding some needed light on the topic.
When talking about who owns Swiss Air, it’s important to look at the history and journey of the Swiss Airline. Established in 1931, Swiss Air has gone through a lot of changes since its official opening date. From being owned by Swiss and foreign Airlines to private-public ownership, it’s been quite a ride. Currently, Swiss Air is owned by a former subsidiary of the German Airline Lufthansa, SWISS AG. The name SWISS AG had a long-time presence in Switzerland, and is a merger of a few different Swiss airlines. It includes the former Swiss Air operations, which is why some rumors have been claiming that Lufthansa still owns Swiss. However, this isn’t the case, and the airline is ultimately owned by the Swiss Federation.The only other controlling force to Swiss Air is Swiss Federal Railway, which provides 25% of the airline’s capital, while the remaining 75% is invested by a public-private partnership between the Swiss government and the Swiss Air Foundation. Overall, Swiss Air is a privately held company, yet it is partly owned by the Swiss government. This combination of government and commercial ownership allows the airline to have the advantage of both public and private entities.
The requirement for foreign-owned airlines to have control over their country’s operations is one of the many reasons behind Swiss Air being owned by a private entity. Historically, some of the major airspace players in Switzerland have been foreign-owned based Airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM. These Airlines are subcontracted to fly certain routes, allowing them to have control over which routes they fly and their specific body of rules and regulations.
In a way, this is an effective way for foreign-owned airlines to have considerable control over the operations of Swiss Air, but since the ownership of Swiss Air is privately held, they do not have the same type of control as a foreign-owned Airline. Swiss Air retains control over its operations, with their regulations and rules being developed and executed in Switzerland, as opposed to having to follow the regulations of another foreign-owned entity.
Despite the ownership of Swiss Air going through a lot of changes over the last decade, the common denominator is that Swiss Air is part of the Swiss Federation, and lives by the rules dictated in the country. This partnership allows the airline to benefit from both aspects of private and public-sector ownership, offering passengers the best of both worlds.
In summation, although the details of who owns Swiss Air have certainly been a bit elusive over the years, it’s quite simple when it comes down to it. The airline is owned by a former subsidiary of Lufthansa, as well as the Swiss Federal Railway, and the Swiss Air Foundation. This combination of public and private investment ensures that passengers on Swiss Air get the best of both worlds: reliable customer service and practical regulations backed by the Swiss government. After all, there’s no better way to enjoy the Swiss Alps than with the security of the Swiss Air’s safety protocols!
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