New Crossair board approves rescue plan

Crossair is preparing to become the new national carrier swissinfo.ch

The newly appointed Crossair board has given the green light for the regional carrier to take over 52 planes from the collapsed Swissair. The move, after an eight-hour first meeting, paves the way for the new Swiss national airline.

The 11-member board, under the leadership of former KLM airline head, Pieter Bouw, reviewed the business plan at the marathon session and approved the takeover of 26 short-haul and 26 long-haul aircraft from Swissair.

Crossair boss André Dosé confirmed the move in the German-language Swiss television news programme “10 vor 10”. However, he emphasised the takeover was subject to strict conditions.

After the meeting, Dosé said it was crucial that the cost structure of the rescue plan was strictly observed and that the new airline did not take over any of Swissair’s financial liabilities.

Dosé also said the outcome of a referendum in Zurich was an important factor for the successful implementation of the rescue plan.

Voters in canton Zurich are due to decide on a cash injection of SFr300 million ($182.93 million) for the airline in the referendum on January 13.

Two headquarters

The board also decided that the new airline will have two headquarters – one in Basel and one in Zurich.

Dosé said some of the new airline’s seven departments and he himself would have two offices.

The finance and controlling department would be based in Basel, sales and flight operations would remain in Zurich, he said.

The name of the new airline is planned to be decided in the next board meeting in January, according to a Crossair press release.

Representatives of the Swiss confederation, as a major shareholder, and canton Zurich have expressed satisfaction at the board decisions.

In a related development, members of Swissair staff have decided to protest at Geneva airport on Saturday about the absence of funds for a social plan for those who have lost their jobs as a consequence of the group’s collapse.

A union spokeswoman had said the action would be called off if Crossair found a solution at its board meeting on Wednesday.

However, Swissair staff at Zurich airport decided on Thursday against protest action for the time being, arguing that this would send a false signal and endager the current wave of public solidarity.

swissinfo with agencies