Helvetic Airways opens new EuroAirport base

Swiss regional airline Helvetic Airways formally inaugurated its new operating base at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg yesterday (Thursday 8 July). The opening ceremony, complete with water salute, was performed on the apron of the binational airport with representatives of Helvetic Airways, the EuroAirport and aircraft manufacturer Embraer in attendance.

Two Helvetic Airways aircraft, an Embraer E190-E1 and an E195-E2, will now be stationed at the EuroAirport, marking the first return of a Swiss airline to the trinational hub since May 2015. With the Embraer E195-E2, which is known as the ‘Green Machine’ and is the flagship of the Helvetic Airways fleet, the EuroAirport is now home to one of the world’s quietest and most ecofriendly single-aisle aircraft.

The opening ceremony and media conference for the new Helvetic Airways operating base were held yesterday afternoon, with representatives of the EuroAirport, Helvetic Airways and Embraer in attendance. “In stationing two of our aircraft and 20 of our flying personnel at the EuroAirport, we are sending a strong and positive signal to the Upper Rhine Region,” said Helvetic Airways CEO Tobias Pogorevc. “And we’re firmly convinced of the potential that the EuroAirport holds for our flight operations.”

Matthias Suhr, Managing Director of EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, is equally pleased that a Swiss-cross-finned airline is returning to the airport. “We are delighted to expand the range of air services that are available from Basel-Mulhouse this summer through the addition of further attractive destinations, and thereby strengthen our role in ensuring that our trinational region enjoys extensive air connections,” he said. “In Helvetic Airways, we now also have a full-service airline at our airport with an outstandingly ecofriendly aircraft, which fully accords with our own EuroAirport commitment to sustainable further development.”

Cesar Pereira, Vice-President Sales & Marketing EMEA of Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, was particularly pleased with the premiere. “It’s a great honour to join Helvetic today for the first E195-E2 flight into its new home at EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg,” he said. “As the quietest and lowest-emission aircraft in their class, Helvetic’s E2s will be good neighbours for the communities of the Basel area, as well as providing more comfortable travels to many exciting new destinations.”

Helvetic Airways offers a range of attractive weekend air services from Basel to Santorini, Larnaca and Jerez in its 2021 summer schedules. The flights can be booked at https://booking.helvetic.com.