The Swiss are pioneers of all things great: cheese, chocolate, hospitality and luxury. The airline of Switzerland, SWISS, is no exception—with its unparalleled connectivity from India to all of Europe and North America, newly launched in-flight menu with Indian favourites, and a host of luxe lounges you will never want to leave. We caught up with Wolfgang Will, senior director, South Asia, for the Lufthansa Group (of which SWISS is a part) to find out more:
ELLE: Tell us about SWISS’s very special relationship with India.
Wolfgang Will: In India, SWISS operates the Airbus A330-300, a state-of-the-art aircraft. There are daily direct flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Zurich, with onward connections to Europe and North America. India is one of the most important intercontinental markets for us, and a source of growth.
ELLE: Tell us about the new in-flight menu that SWISS recently launched.
WW: For first class guests, the menu offers a selection of starters such as samosa with mint chutney or lobster with beetroot mayo, and a choice of main course that includes roast lamb leg and mattar badam ki tikki. For dessert, there is ice cream with fresh fruit compote. Business class travellers can enjoy snacks such as khandvi on a bed of fruit salsa and banana leaves (which is actually my favourite), chana pindi wrap, and smoked pumpkin soup. Dessert is beetroot halwa and fruit tart. The meals in economy class comprise warm starters like chicken stroganoff and vegetarian makhani wraps, while the main course is a mysore masala dosa with carrots, a green pea upma and a mini uttapam. The new menu also offers options for diabetic, vegan, glutenand lactose-intolerant travellers. Special meals (Jain and kosher) can be pre-ordered as well.
Paratha basket
Paneer tikka
Mysore masala dosa, peas upma, mini uttapam and coconut chutney
ELLE: Have you been around India?
WW: India had been on my wish list for years after I read about its history. So far, I have visited Agra, Delhi and Amritsar, and I’ve been to the hills and the backwaters too—I love India’s people and food.
Feet up
SWISS’s lounges at Zurich airport, where most of their flights halt before connections, are going to take you from dreading long layovers to anticipating them. After all, who can complain when you have a hotel room looking out over the Alps, as is possible at SWISS First Lounge E.
Senator Lounge E
When you’re not gazing at the panoramic view, you can use the conference room to slip in some work or enjoy a meal at the five-star à la carte restaurant. Moving on to SWISS Senator Lounge E, you can enjoy the terrace, with yet another view of the Alps, and an exclusive whisky bar with over 220 varieties from across the world. The recently unveiled Swiss First Lounge A features check-in facilities, its own security check, an à la carte restaurant and a barista bar serving a wide range of Swiss grappa. There are nine lounges sprinkled across terminals E, A, D, and the Arrivals section, to suit every traveller’s needs.
Senator Lounge A
SWISS Business Lounge
