Social commitment
SWISS is committed to society and the economy in a variety of ways, with a focus on Switzerland.
SWISS is part of Switzerland’s public transport system. Based on local demand for flight services, SWISS secures Switzerland’s international connectivity and provides direct flights to economically significant intercontinental markets. We provide an economic contribution as an employer, tax payer and system partner. SWISS is a member of various national and international organisations. As representatives of the Swiss airline our experts actively contribute their knowledge and experience to aviation policy debates. We encourage education and further training, cooperate with high schools and universities on various initiatives and are committed to the dual education system in Switzerland in order to ensure that Swiss aviation continues to lead the way globally.
SWISS training programmes
The dual education system in Switzerland enjoys worldwide recognition and is an important factor in the country’s economic success. Approximately 70 percent of the youth in Switzerland choose a company apprenticeship. SWISS supports Switzerland’s education system with its commitment to vocational education. At the SWISS training workshop and at Zurich Airport around 70 apprentices complete a four year vocational training as multi-skilled mechanics or automation technicians. SWISS vocational trainers are committed here to the theoretical and practical training of apprentices from SWISS, SR Technics and the Cessna Zurich Citation Service Center. As a member of the training network, SWISS currently offers 18 commercial apprenticeships in Geneva and Zurich.
Vocational training as a flight mechanic in India
According to projections, India is expected to become one of the world’s most important aviation markets. The industry has extensive need for highly specialised aviation professionals. SkillSonics, the Swiss training company, has been offering education and further training in India since 2011 on the basis of the Swiss vocational education system. Together with SWISS, SkillSonics expanded its training programme for multi-skilled mechanics with a focus on aviation in 2018.
New talent programme
SWISS is committed, and uses various platforms, to promote new talent in Swiss aviation, such as trial and experience afternoons.
Aviation youth camp: the ProAero Foundation holds a youth camp every year for 14 to 16 year olds who are interested in flying.
SPHAIR - talents for the sky: SPHAIR is a training platform for the Swiss Airforce and serves as the pre-selection for pilot candidates.
Cooperation with high schools and universities
SWISS is engaged in numerous partnerships and cooperation with Swiss high schools and universities. For example, they support the aviation degree programme at ZHAW School of Engineering, as well as various economic, tourism and management courses.
Collaboration with selected suppliers
SWISS takes special suppliers into account in the procurement process: we source around 2000 Business Class and 300 First Class clothes hangers from the «Orte zum Leben» foundation in Lenzburg. The foundation provides a place to live and work for people with disabilities, including operating its own joinery. The Pigna Foundation, a workshop for people with disabilities in Kloten, manages the cleaning and preparation of approximately one million on- board headphones from SWISS, among other things.
