Episode Details

This episode outlines the history of Swissair, which served as the national airline of Switzerland from 1931 until its collapse in 2002. Once celebrated as the "flying bank" for its remarkable financial stability and service quality, the carrier became a major global icon headquartered in Zürich. However, aggressive over-expansion through its "Hunter Strategy" and a tragic crash in 1998 eventually led to a severe liquidity crisis. These financial struggles were compounded by the economic downturn following the September 11 attacks, resulting in a controversial total grounding of the fleet in October 2001. Operations were ultimately transferred to its subsidiary Crossair, which was rebranded as Swiss International Air Lines and later acquired by Lufthansa. Today, the legacy of the original company remains a significant chapter in aviation history and Swiss corporate identity.