Swiss takes over charter airline

Swiss International Air Lines is pursuing its expansion, with its purchase of charter firm Edelweiss from travel specialist Kuoni.

The deal is part of new strategic partnership that should allow the two companies to offer a wider choice to customers while concentrating on their core businesses.

Swiss, which is part of Germany’s Lufthansa group, will continue to operate Edelweiss as a separate entity with its own management, staff and aircraft. The charter airline owns four Airbus passenger jets.

It the deal is approved by the authorities, the partnership will begin in October. Customers will also be able to book hotels and Edelweiss tickets via the Swiss website as of next year.

Swiss transported a record number of passengers in 2007, carrying 12.2 million people, and earned SFr475 million ($430 million) in the first nine months of the year.