West of England firms doing business in Zurich will be able to fly direct to the Swiss financial centre when a new a three-times-a-week service from Bristol Airport launches next month.
Helvetic Airways launches the flights on December 5 with tickets costing from £145 return. The service will give business and leisure travellers the first direct service between Bristol and Zurich. Blue Islands, the Channel Island-based airline, currently has a twice-weekly service via Jersey.
Zurich is home to the world’s fourth biggest stock exchange and is a centre for banking and insurance, pharmaceuticals, and hi-tech industries as well as the world’s largest gold trading market.
It is also a leisure destination with a vibrant nightlife and cultural scene coupled with a rich history centred on the medieval old town. The city’s airport is also popular as a jumping-off point for ski resorts such as Klosters, Grindelwald and Wengen.
Helvetic Airways chief executive Bruno Jans said: “We are developing our service in an economically strong region of the British Isles, providing business travellers with a fast link to Zurich." He added that for Swiss tourists, Bristol is an ideal starting point for leisure trips - the South West countryside is popular with the Swiss following the success of the German-language television adaptation of Rosamunde Pilcher’s novels set in the region.
Bristol Airport boss Robert Sinclair added: “Zurich is a key business destination. It also enables the region to market its attractions to Swiss tourists, for whom the UK currently represents great value for money.”
Helvetic Airways is the 12th scheduled airline operating from Bristol Airport. The airline will operate 100-seat Fokker 100 aircraft on the route. Tickets are already on sale at www.helvetic.com.
Helvetic business travellers can book semi-flex and full-flex fares, there is a free baggage allowance of 30 kg plus two pieces of hand luggage. In addition, the middle seat in each three-seat row will be left unoccupied. There is also access to business class lounges and a priority check-in desk.
