Thomas Klühr has led SWISS for more than four years, including the devastating pandemic months.
Keystone / Ennio Leanza
The CEO of Swiss International Air Lines, Thomas Klühr, will step down at the end of the year to take up a role on a new body that will monitor the government’s bailout of the industry.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/mga
Klühr has led SWISS since February 2016 as part of a 30-year career at Lufthansa Group, which owns Switzerland’s national carrier. He is leaving his current post for “personal reasons”, read a SWISS statementExternal link. Klühr delayed his departure to steer the company through the worst of the coronavirus pandemic that has devastated the airline industry.
He will also resign as chairman of charter airline Edelweiss at the end of 2020.
“Thomas Klühr has brought SWISS a long way further on its successful course. And following the outbreak of COVID-19, with his skill and his commitment he has played an essential part in stabilizing the company in financial and operational terms,” said SWISS chairman Reto Francioni.
Klühr will take up a new position at the Swiss Aviation Foundation, a body that has yet to be created but will monitor the future development of the Zurich Airport hub. This was a condition set down by the government when it agreed to a nearly CHF1.9 billion ($2 billion) airline bailout in April.
Nearly CHF1.3 billion of the funds will go to SWISS and Edelweiss. The government wants to make sure the funds are directed towards strengthening the industry in Switzerland rather than being spent elsewhere within the Lufthansa group.
The government will appoint a chairman and two further members of the Swiss Aviation Foundation while Lufthansa and SWISS are to each appoint one member. Klühr will be one of these two people.
Should raw milk sales be banned or should consumers decide?
Swiss food regulations do not allow raw milk to be sold for direct consumption. However, a loophole allows 400 raw milk vending machines to do just that.
Switzerland to step up humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Syria
This content was published on
The Swiss government decided to allocate an additional CHF7 million to the two countries in response to the escalating violence in the Middle East.
Report exposes widespread hygiene issues in Swiss hospitals
This content was published on
A Swissmedic report found that nearly all of the 25 Swiss hospitals inspected had issues with disinfecting, sterilising and packaging of medical products.
Swiss bank Mirabaud closes brokerage unit due to poor performance
This content was published on
The move spanning the bank’s global operations means a loss of 17 jobs, including five each in Switzerland and the UK, and seven in Spain.
Guterres condemns Israel’s plan to label UNRWA a terrorist organisation
This content was published on
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has spoken out against a law proposed by the Israeli parliament that would classify UNRWA as a terrorist organisation.
This content was published on
The Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich is the best university in continental Europe, according to the Times Higher Education ranking.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss International Air Lines’ turnover halved due to coronavirus
This content was published on
The economic repercussions of the coronavirus have caused turnover at the airline to fall by 55% in the first half of 2020.
SWISS slowly expands web of destinations from Zurich and Geneva
This content was published on
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has published its flight schedules up to October 24, the end of the summer timetable.
Germany gives green light to Swiss airline bailout
This content was published on
While the loan will be 85% guaranteed by the Swiss state, German approval was first needed for a wider Lufthansa group aid package. The funds will also be used to bail out the Zurich-based charter airline Edelweiss, which was taken over by SWISS in 2008 and is also part of the Lufthansa group. “We…
This content was published on
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) plans to speed up the refund process for airline tickets purchased via travel agencies.
SWISS plans to introduce rapid pre-boarding Covid tests
This content was published on
German airline Lufthansa, which owns SWISS, will introduce rapid tests before certain flights to detect Covid-19 in passengers.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.