SWISS is expanding its long-haul cargo-only flight schedule and is removing the economy class seats of four B777-300ER aircraft to increase their freight payload.

SWISS will from today (May 15) offer frequent flights to Hong Kong (twice weekly), New York JFK (four times weekly), a weekly Johannesburg service (performed initially by Edelweiss and from June by SWISS) and Mumbai (three times a week). 

Since the end of March, SWISS and its Swiss WorldCargo division have operated more than 200 cargo-only flights, transporting over 4,000 tonnes of cargo between Asia and Switzerland.

Most of the goods transported included medicines and medical supplies to support Switzerland and its population.

At the end of June, another 160 cargo flights are expected to be carried out on behalf of various private companies and public institutions. These will include the first-ever services to destinations such as Toronto and Shenzhen.

The first of four such flights from Zurich to Toronto was on May 12, and ten cargo-only flights will be operated to Shenzhen from May 22 onwards. All these services will be performed with B777-300ER aircraft.