SWISS will substantially increase flying with its own aircraft and crews from summer 2027, ending its cooperation with airBaltic after the 2026/27 winter timetable. The Lufthansa Group carrier plans to reduce its wet-lease fleet from 26 aircraft to around 18, while reactivating additional Airbus A320s and relying primarily on Helvetic Airways for remaining outsourced operations.
SWISS currently expects to use around 17 Helvetic Airways aircraft, comprising Embraer 190 and 195 jets from both the E1 and E2 generations, together with one Airbus A320 operated by Edelweiss. In summer 2026, its comparable wet-lease deployment included 15 Helvetic aircraft, 10 airBaltic aircraft and one Edelweiss aircraft.
The shift follows improved availability of Pratt & Whitney engines and a stronger cockpit-crew position after earlier operational constraints involving engine shortages, training requirements and staffing. SWISS has stressed that the decision is unrelated to airBaltic’s financial position and reflects its own recovery and strategy to increase in-house flying.
The airline has not yet finalised the complete short- and medium-haul fleet breakdown for summer 2027, as aircraft inductions and retirements remain under way. Its current fleet in this segment comprises around 56 Airbus A220, A320 and A321 aircraft. The reduction in wet leasing is not expected to cut the schedule: SWISS plans to serve 95 destinations from Zurich, including 69 European and 26 intercontinental routes, two more destinations than in summer 2026. Details for Geneva are expected in November.