SWISS carried 1.33 million passengers over the autumn holidays as punctuality improved

Swiss International Air Lines carried about 1.33 million passengers on 10,154 flights between 25 September and 18 October 2026, the autumn school holiday period in Switzerland, 1.5% fewer passengers than a year earlier, the airline said on 21 October 2026.

Punctuality improved: 68% of flights left on time, defined as no more than 15 minutes late, up 3.7 percentage points year on year. SWISS also reports operational stability of 98.2%, measured as the share of flights operated out of those scheduled twelve weeks in advance. London Heathrow was the most popular European destination, followed by Palma de Mallorca and Berlin, while New York JFK led on long-haul routes, ahead of Chicago and Boston.

Chief operating officer Oliver Buchhofer said that, unlike the summer holidays, autumn demand is concentrated in a short period, and credited the punctuality gain to processes optimised with partners. For travellers, the figures suggest a steadier operation at Zurich during a short, intense peak, although roughly a third of flights still departed more than 15 minutes late.

The release does not give load factors, explain the small fall in passenger numbers or say anything about the winter schedule. Passengers planning trips over the Christmas peak should check their flight status with SWISS before travelling.