Swiss expands network with Edelweiss agreement

Swiss expands network with Edelweiss agreement    Swiss World Cargo said Monday it is expanding its network to seven new destinations through a cooperative agreement with Swiss passenger airline Edelweiss Air.
   The agreement will see Swiss World Cargo market belly space for Edelweiss as it enters the cargo market. Edelweiss and Swiss began collaborating on passenger services in November 2008.
   The new destinations are long-haul flights from Switzerland: Mombassa and Nairobi in Kenya; Cancun, Mexico; Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; Goa, India; and Male, Maldives.
   The Nairobi flight complements an existing Swiss Air flight from Zurich.
   “This is an exciting and mutually beneficial agreement,' said Oliver Evans, chief cargo officer at Swiss Air, in a statement. 'Our industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges and many competitors are canceling destinations in their network. Thanks to the cooperation with Edelweiss Air, we are able to expand our offer. Most of the new markets served are small, but Swiss WorldCargo has an established reputation for focusing effectively also on niches. The Edelweiss Air brand is well established in the Swiss market, and the network will offer Swiss WorldCargo's customers some attractive new business opportunities.'
   The airlines did not say what aircraft would be used for the new destinations. Edelweiss' Web site says it used A-330 planes for its long-haul flights.