ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Airline Swiss had a strong first six months in 2013, ending the period with profits of CHF72 million, an 18 percent increase over the first half of 2012. Turnover increased by 3 percent to CHF2.52 billion.

Parent company Lufthansa showed profits halved during the second quarter of 2013, but says its operational performance improved during the period and exceptional charges account for the fall in profits. The company is undergoing a significant restructuration.

Swiss said in a statement on its earnings, issued 2 August:

“The reasons for these positive developments can be found in the slight stabilization of market conditions in the second-quarter period and in the impact of numerous actions taken under the Lufthansa Group’s Score programme to enhance earnings performance and results. ‘We have detected a change in market trends,’ confirms Swiss CEO Harry Hohmeister. ‘But with the still-high fuel prices in particular, the situation remains far from easy, and we haven’t achieved our results turnaround yet. We’re currently in the midst of some major structural adjustments to our European operations, like our new organization and fare model for Geneva.'”

The changes in Geneva involve offersing one-way fares as of this autumn and the appointment of a new local management team for the regional market of Western Switzerland and adjacent French border areas. A new Geneva crew base is still in the planning stages.

Passenger load rose from 81.3 to 82.6 percent, year to year, for the January to June period.

The airline says it is taking additional measures to cut the annual fuel bill “by a double-digit million-franc amount by 2015”. These include
reducing aircraft weights, revised flight planning, new flight procedures and the adoption of new technologies.