From 3 September 2016, SWISS introduced its flagship B777-300ER to Singapore Changi Airport with thrice weekly flights. The remaining four times weekly flights will continue to be served by the A340-300s. SWISS first resumed daily flights between Zurich and Singapore three years ago operating solely on the A340-300s.
LX179 departing Singapore for Zurich at 11.10pm will be serviced by the B777-300ERs. The return flight LX178 departing Zurich at 10.45pm and arriving in Singapore at 4.55pm the next day will be serviced by the B777-300ERs.
LX179 departing at 10.45pm from Singapore for Zurich and the return flight LX178 departing Zurich at 10.45pm and arriving in Singapore at 5.55pm the next day will be serviced by the A340-300s.
SWISS’s B777-300ER aircraft seats eight in First class (1-2-1 configuration), 62 in Business Class (2-2-1 or 1-2-2 configuration) and 270 in Economy Class (3-4-3 configuration). That is 55% more seats than the A340-300s. SWISS collected its first B777-300ER earlier this year and is used to serve ultra long haul routes.
Economy class customers can also help themselves to food and drink at the self service kiosks on board the B777-300ERs. The airline has also chosen SupraCore seat cushion technology to provide maximum comfort for its customers. Enjoy inflight entertainment on the 11 inch touchscreen with USB and audio port. However, the Economy class configuration on board the A340-300 is 2-4-2 which in my opinion may be more comfortable for customers travelling in pairs especially when they take the window pair seats.
Inflight Internet and Roaming Only On B777-300ER
Inflight internet connectivity is available on board all its B777-300ERs. Wifi tariffs are charged based on packages of data – 20mb for CHF9, 50mb for CHF19 and 120mb for CHF39. First class customers will get 50mb data package for free. Inflight phoning via roaming will also be made available on board the B777-300ER through AeroMobile. Prices of these services will be set by the corresponding contractual agreements between AeroMobile and the customer’s phone service provider. This roaming phone service will only be available at service times during night flights. Once the cabin lighting is switched off, the feature may no longer be used.
Seats in SWISS B777-300ER vs A340-300
| B777-300ER | A340-300 | |
| First | 8 | 8 |
| Business | 62 | 47 |
| Economy | 270 | 164 |
| Total | 340 | 219 |
The airline has chosen to fly the B777-300ERs three times weekly because Singapore travellers contribute to the highest overnights in Switzerland based on per capita. That is 63,635 overnights from Singapore in Switzerland in 2015. Singapore is also home to 400 Swiss companies that employs an estimated 25,000 people. Switzerland is Singapore’s fifth largest foreign direct investor while Singapore is Switzerland’s largest trade partner in ASEAN.
SWISS operates flights between Zurich and eight Asian cities including Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi and Bombay. It operates the B777-300ERs to three of the eight Asian cities including Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore. The B777-300ER is also used for flights to San Francisco, Los Angeles, São Paulo and Tel Aviv.
From March 2017 the Zurich – Singapore route will be serviced solely by the B777-300ERs.
