SWISS posts an operating result of CHF 502 million for 2025

2025 proved a period of mixed fortunes for Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS). “It was a year of contrasts,” reflects Chief Executive Officer Jens Fehlinger. “With our new Airbus A350, our new cabin interiors and our new SWISS Senses service product, we made substantial investments in our future. But strong competitive pressures, rising costs and shortages of resources hindered our growth. This we must now remedy with a targeted response.”

SWISS reports an operating result or Adjusted EBIT of CHF 502.2 million for the 2025 financial year, a decline of 26.6 percent from the prior-year result (2024: CHF 683.8 million). Total revenues for 2025 amounted to CHF 5.50 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 2.6 percent (2024: CHF 5.64 billion). “Our earnings decline sends a clear message,” CEO Fehlinger concludes. “We must raise our efficiency and lower our costs.”

“2025 was a demanding year in market terms,” adds Chief Financial Officer Dennis Weber. “Strong competitive pressures, volatile demand and rising fees and maintenance costs all had their impact on our earnings results. Our cargo business also fell short of its prior-year performance, as we were disproportionately affected by geopolitical uncertainties. On the plus side, our earnings did benefit somewhat from favorable fuel price trends.”

Earnings for 2025 were further depressed by shortages of resources, specifically of engines and crews. As a result, aircraft remained grounded for longer than scheduled or could not be utilized to the levels envisaged. This in turn created a productivity shortfall which meant that the growth planned could only be partially achieved and capacities could not be expanded as intended.

Passenger volumes at prior-year levels

SWISS transported some 18.1 million travelers in 2025 – an increase of 0.6 percent on its prior-year passenger volume. The number of flights performed was also raised 0.6 percent to over 143,000. Total production capacity was increased by 1.5 percent in available seat-kilometer (ASK) terms, while total traffic volume, measured in revenue passenger-kilometers (RPK), was up 0.5 percent year-on-year. Systemwide seat load factor for 2025 stood at 83.3 percent, a 0.8-percentage-point decline from its prior-year level.

Weaker fourth-quarter results

For the fourth quarter of 2025 SWISS achieved an Adjusted EBIT of CHF 91.0 million, a decline of 49.1 percent on the prior-year period (Q4 2024: CHF 178.8 million). Total fourth-quarter revenues were down 5.2 percent at CHF 1.33 billion (Q4 2024: CHF 1.40 billion).

Here, too, earnings for the period were substantially depressed by continuing market pressures and rising costs, while lower fuel prices helped offset the downward trend.

Punctuality and schedule stability improved

Despite the challenges, SWISS further improved its operating performance in 2025. Punctuality levels were raised 4.1 percentage points to 69.3 percent, while schedule stability was increased just under one percentage point to 98.0 percent. The performance improvements are the product of both targeted actions and the sizeable energies and endeavors of the company’s personnel.

Structural measures to enhance cost efficiency

SWISS took specific structural actions in the course of 2025 in response to the challenging cost trends. These included the initiation of a companywide cost reduction program aimed at making more targeted use of resources, improving suprafunctional and interdivisional collaborations and creating lean structures. SWISS is also seeking to further digitalize and automate its processes and to consistently utilize new technologies.

“Our business environment remains challenging in the shorter term,” CEO Fehlinger says. “So it’s all the more crucial for us to slim down our structures and make ourselves sustainably more efficient. An airline that doesn’t grow but shrinks will lose its competitive edge. We’re determined to consolidate our position and return SWISS to profitable growth. And we’ll be laying the foundations for doing so throughout 2026.”

“Flying should remain affordable,” Fehlinger continues, “because having adequately extensive and affordable air links is vital to Switzerland. They keep our country connected with the world, they enhance its locational credentials, they safeguard jobs, and they support both our exports and our tourist industry. But if we are to maintain these, we must be able to operate from competitive locations, we must work more closely with our system partners, and we must all be willing to make the improvements required.”

Continuing investments in the customer experience

Despite the financial challenges, SWISS remains firmly committed to further enhancing its customers’ air travel experience. Plans to this end in the years ahead include the refurbishment of its long-haul Airbus A330 fleet, which will also see the installation of the new SWISS Senses cabin.

“We need to economize while continuing to pursue our innovation track,” CEO Fehlinger concludes. “That’s quite a balancing act. But it’s one that is essential to our continued success.”

--- END press release SWISS posts an operating result of CHF 502 million for 2025 ---

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  2025: SWISS erzielt operatives Ergebnis von 502 Millionen Franken (news article in german on swiss-press.com)