‍DALLAS — Swiss International Air Lines (LX) has inaugurated direct flights from Zurich’s Kloten Airport (ZRH) to Seoul’s Incheon International Airport (ICN), marking its entry into the Korean market.

The Swiss flag carrier will offer 3 weekly flights on this route. This service is in addition to the daily services offered by Lufthansa (LH), from its Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) hubs. 

On May 7, LX’s inaugural flight was operated by an Airbus A340-300. The launch of LX’s thrice weekly flights with its 215-seat A340 aircraft is expected to enhance passenger convenience.

“We are delighted to welcome SWISS to Korea.  With 17 weekly flights, Lufthansa Group now operates non-stop services to Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich where we offer Korean passengers direct connections from our hubs to the largest network in Europe. We have connected Korea with Europe for 40 years and the introduction of flights with the national airline of Switzerland represents our commitment to this important market,” said Mr. Leandro Tonidandel, SWISS’ General Manager for Korea.

Boost for Trade, Tourism

This new service is expected to boost trade and tourism between the countries. For the first time, Korean travellers can fly directly to Switzerland in the heart of Europe with LX.

Switzerland is famous for its unique culture, snow peaked mountains and hospitable people. With various exchanges in education, economics and culture, this direct flight aims to further strengthen ties between the nations.  

Since Korea is Switzerland's fourth-largest trading partner in Asia, the direct services are expected to benefit travelers and also to leverage strong bilateral ties. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between South Korea and Switzerland.

"The two countries have a lot in common, from the rich cultural heritage to strong business ties that we have built, especially over the past five years. I envision this initiative as a seedling that will grow into a robust tree symbolizing the bilateral relationship between our two nations,” said Markus Binkert, Chief Financial Officer of Swiss International Air Lines.