  Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) took delivery of the first of nine new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft at Zurich Airport at 9:14 a.m. on January 30, marking a new era in Switzerland's aviation history. The 777-300ER aircraft, which bears the registration HB-JNA and name "November Alpha", was welcomed with loud applause from the especially invited media and VIP guests, and the large number of proud SWISS fans and other keen spectators. The youngest and biggest member of the SWISS fleet was flown to Zurich from Boeing's Everett Factory in Seattle. On January 29, SWISS also officially opened First Class, Business Class and Senator Lounge facilities in Zurich Airport's Terminal E. The two events usher in a new era for SWISS, in the air and on the ground, under its "Next-Generation Airline of Switzerland" strategy. The Boeing 777-300ER has state-of-the-art technology. It offers maximum reliability, a very high level of comfort in the cabin, and has space for over 330 seats. It can also save 23% in fuel and CO2 emissions per seat in comparison with the A340-300. With five sister aircraft to follow by August 2016, and then three more during 2017-18, the long-range Boeings will replace Swiss' older gas-guzzling Airbus A340s, and will be used exclusively on routes to Hong Kong, Bangkok and Los Angeles, plus some flights to San Francisco, São Paulo and Tel Aviv.  Photo Copyright SWISS  The new Boeing 777-300ER belonging to SWISS: Photo Copyright SWISS The Boeing 777-300ER features all-new First Class suites and Business Class seats shaped by leading design house PriestmanGoode as a natural evolution of Swiss' award-winning cabins – but with more space, more storage and greater privacy. The colour palette throughout the cabin has been updated to richer, more sophisticated tones, while keeping very much on-brand for that unmistakeable Swiss look and feel – even in the entrance to the Boeing 777-300ER- effectively it is like a five-star hotel in the sky. "We took inspiration from Switzerland’s design and craft heritage, as well as Swiss’ own brand identity, including the airline’s headquarters and flagship lounges in Zurich" says Nigel Goode, Co-Founding Director of PriestmanGoode. "The resulting cabins are luxurious, elegant and timeless with a lightness of touch, precise craftsmanship and attention to detail that embody the Swiss brand.” All passengers will have access to a new satellite Internet service, with prices ranging from 9 Swiss Francs (A$12.60) for 20MB through to 39 Swiss Francs (A$54.60) for 120MB. Swiss will also allow calls to be made direct from your smartphone using special 'pico-cells' fitted to the aircraft which mimic the mobile network your phone would see on the ground.  The 62 Business Class seats represent a measured evolution of the current and highly-regarded design rather than a radical make-over. New features include headphone hangers and straps for storing tablets and magazines, along with more personal stowage. Photo Copyright SWISS  The Business Class cabin continue to boast a handful of those single 'throne' seats flanked by a pair of imposing side tables – ideal for the solo traveller.  The 270 Economy Class seats each have a large touchscreen monitor plus USB sockets. Photo Copyright SWISS  SWISS Avro RJ-100 on Take off: Copyright Navjot Singh  Route: Geneva International to London City Departure date and time of flight: 17:55pm on 4th April 2008 Flight Number: LX356 Flight duration: 1h 35m Class: Economy Class Aircraft type: Avro RJ100 Avroliner Punctuality of the flight: In the true Swiss way, the flight was on time, and likewise it landed on time. Any baggage issues: No issues- the bags arrived on time and in one piece. Comments on the check-in staff and any issues: No check in issues. The check in process at Geneva did not take much time. Its not a medium sized airport, and normally on any given day it takes around 20 minutes on average to get from the check in desk to the gate. Comments regarding the pre-meal service: No pre-meal on this flight Comments regarding the first meal: Nothing. No sandwich or anything else. We were just offered the drinks and the Swiss chocolates! Comments regarding the drinks service: A second round of drinks were offered after the meal. Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any): We were offered the complimentary Swiss chocolates in the shape of a football because of the UEFA Euro 2008 was just around the corner! Comments regarding the second meal (if any): None Comments on the in-flight system (if any): None Comments on the professionalism of the cabin crew: The cabin crew were very professional and polite. Just a normal flight, without any incidents. Improvements that could be made: Maybe some more food- such as sandwiches. Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): The Avro RJ100 Avroliner has a standard 2-2 layout in an all Economy Class. However, the Avro RJ100 is purely used a means of getting Europeans from main airports to smaller airports on short haul flights. Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best):10      SWISS A320 at Geneva: Copyright Navjot Singh Route: London City to Geneva Departure date and time of flight: 08:40am on 31st March 2008 Flight Number: LX443 Flight duration: 1h 45m Class: Economy Class Aircraft type: Avro RJ100 Avroliner Punctuality of the flight: In the true Swiss way, the flight was on time, and likewise it landed on time. Any baggage issues: No issues- the bags arrived on time and in one piece. Comments on the check-in staff and any issues: No check in issues. As always, everything went perfectly smoothly at London City Airport. The timing to go from the check-in desk to the gate was around 15 minutes maximum (and this despite being the morning rush hour at London City). Comments regarding the pre-meal service: No pre-meal on this flight Comments regarding the first meal: Nothing. No sandwich or anything else. We were just offered the drinks and the Swiss chocolates! Comments regarding the drinks service: A second round of drinks were offered after the meal. Comments regarding the in-flight snacks (if any): We were offered the customary complimentary Swiss chocolates in the shape of a football because of the UEFA Euro 2008 was just around the corner! Comments on the interior of the aircraft (including seat comfort): The Avro RJ100 Avroliner has a standard 2-2 layout in an all Economy Class setup. However, the Avro RJ100 is purely used a means of getting Europeans from main airports to smaller airports on short haul flights. Overall rating 1-10 (worst-best):10    |
 Navjot inside an Airbus A320 cockpit of British Airways at Heathrow Airport About Airline PRThis is a special section on Airline Branding, and Airline Public Relations written by me on all the flights I have been fortunate enough to have been on. These are not records taken from somewhere else, but are actual flights I have been on. Most of the flight trips are officially sponsored by the airline companies in order to promote their certain routes, and aircraft. Airline promotion and PR related work in the aviation industry is one of my expertise. 
Navjot at a Chinese Military Airfield
Watch exclusive videos below taken in the cockpit of a Boeing 777-300ER in-flight over Chinese Airspace.
Special thanks goes to Turkish Airlines B777-300ER Cockpit Video 1B777-300ER Cockpit Video 2
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