Swiss aircraft to climb to new heights
Swiss, the national airline, has decided to name its aircraft after the country's most famous mountains.
In a move aimed at furthering its image, all of the company’s planes will be baptised with their new names by the end of 2002, the United Nations Year of the Mountain. “Along with watches and chocolate, the Alps are Switzerland’s most recognisable symbol,” added Swiss.
The airline announced its decision on Saturday, at Bettmeralp in the Aletsch region, which has just been added to Unesco’s list of World Heritage sites.
The company’s long-haul aircraft will receive the names of mountains over 4,000 metres high, of which there are over 70, mostly in canton Valais. The company’s first Airbus A340-300, to be delivered next year, will be called Matterhorn.
The short-haul aircraft will be baptised with the names of each canton’s highest or best-known mountains.
swissinfo with agencies
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