Whats happening at Basel?
 

Flight International online news 11:30GMT: Swiss International Air Lines is to axe the Embraer ERJ-145 and Saab 2000 regional types from its short-haul network, confirming earlier indications that it would retain only an expanded BAE Systems Avro RJ fleet for regional services.

The airline’s board has decided that, from the beginning of the winter season, the Saab 2000s will no longer be operated while the ERJ-145s will be withdrawn from the fleet by the end of winter.

Swiss operates a 35-strong regional fleet including nine ERJ-145s, seven Saab 2000s, and 19 Avro RJs.

It will increase its Avro RJ complement – currently comprising four RJ85s and 15 RJ100s – to a total of 24 aircraft.

One of its present RJ100s will leave the fleet but the carrier will lease six others over the first quarter of 2006.

The nine ERJ-145s will be leased to other carriers. Swiss says that negotiations to this effect are “already well advanced”.



I have also heard that German wings is thinking or has decided to make Basel their next base!

What's going to happen to all those staff at Swiss, are they going to lose their jobs? Is some maintenance going to the new hanger at Basel or will it be sold? Lufthansa has major share holdings in both Swiss and German Wings so there is hardly going to be in competition between the two more like LH is putting in GW fight Easyjet. Maybe Basel will be the new RJ base for Swiss and LH!

No, certainly not. The Avros will be ZRH based to replace ERJ145 there. BSL was the Saab 2000 base and these are leaving without a replacement.

BSL will only see one locally-based RJ100 for BSL-LCY. For the winter schedule, one ERJ145 will keep operating two daily flights to AMS and BRU, but that's it: Swiss network at BSL down to three destinations - and expect AMS and BRU to see the axe once the ERJ145 has left.

BSL is allegedly already negotiating with KLM for a AMS route, btw.

ERJs
 

Hi,

The article mentioned negotiations were "well under way" to lease the 9 ERJs to other carriers. Does anyone have any info or a good guess as to where these may go?

Cheers,

HS

Re:ARJ's for Swiss

The airline will lease 6 ARJ100'S from
BA Citiexpress of Manchester.

MM

Indeed. It is, however, only a net growth of 5 as one of their own RJ100 has been sold to Atlantic Airways of the Faeroe Islands.

So thats it then, this time next year no more Swiss (Crossair) at Basel. What about the hangers are'nt they better than the SR technics sheds at ZRH. Who is going to use them or buy them?