Edelweiss Swaps A320 For A340 On Lengthy Haul Flight: Speak About A Downgrade!

Plane swaps occur from time to time, whereby the plane working a flight is completely different than the aircraft you have been anticipating. Whereas this may occur for every kind of operational causes, right here’s an plane swap that’s on a distinct stage, as reported by aeroTELEGRAPH…

Edelweiss operates Oman flight with Airbus A320

Edelweiss is SWISS’ leisure subsidiary, and the airline operates each quick and lengthy haul flights. The airline operates a flight to Oman — it’s a triangle route from Zurich (ZRH) to Muscat (MCT) to Salalah (SLL) to Zurich. This flight is ordinarily operated by an Airbus A340-300.

Nonetheless, prior to now couple of weeks, this route has skilled an plane swap twice — as a substitute of being operated by the deliberate extensive physique A340, the route has as a substitute been operated by an Airbus A320.

For context, Edelweiss’ A320s are configured with 174 seats, with all rows being in a 3-3 configuration. The planes don’t have seat again leisure, Wi-Fi, or energy ports, and the interiors are in step with what you’d count on on a brief haul flight inside Europe.

In the meantime Edelweiss’ A340s are configured with 300 seats. This contains 29 enterprise class seats which might be flat beds, and 271 economic system seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. The aircraft additionally has seat again leisure in any respect seats.

So speak about a fully huge distinction by way of passenger expertise. I must think about the flights additionally didn’t have their typical catering, given the dearth of oven capability on the A320.

In relation to journey time, the Zurich to Muscat flight takes round 6hr30min, the Muscat to Salalah flight takes round 1hr20min, and the Salalah to Zurich flight has a refueling cease in Athens, and takes round 9hr30min. So for the return flight, these originating in Muscat spent over 12 hours on the aircraft, whereas these originating in Salalah spent over 10 hours on the aircraft. Discuss a tough journey on an A320!

Other than individuals who have been bumped, EC261 laws don’t particularly cowl what passengers could be entitled to as a result of aircraft swap. Nonetheless, presumably they might be entitled to some compensation, given the distinction between what the airline promised, and what it really delivered.

Why has Edelweiss made such a drastic plane swap twice?

It’s uncommon to see such an excessive aircraft swap at an airline, given the huge distinction by way of capability and passenger expertise. So what’s the reason for this occurring not as soon as, however twice?

Effectively, on November 19, 2025, Edelweiss’ Airbus A350-900 with the license plate HB-IHF had an incident in Bogota (BOG), whereby the aircraft was struck by a baggage cart, inflicting injury to the engine. Given how small Edelweiss’ lengthy haul fleet is, this aircraft grounding has had main operational implications for the airline.

In consequence, Edelweiss has needed to swap across the planes working in another markets, and these Oman flights being downgraded has been a part of that technique. I believe that comes right down to Oman being one of many lengthy haul locations that would most simply be served by the A320, on condition that it’s one of many provider’s shorter lengthy haul flights, and in addition doesn’t contain crossing a significant physique of water (in contrast to Edelweiss’ transatlantic flying).

Backside line

Passengers touring on Edelweiss from Switzerland to Oman have been in for an disagreeable shock, when their Airbus A340 acquired swapped with an Airbus A320. Provided that many passengers on this route spend 10-12 hours on the plane, that’s an enormous downgrade, with out seat again leisure, Wi-Fi, and even energy ports.

This aircraft swap was as a result of an Edelweiss A350 was taken out of service as a consequence of a floor incident in Bogota, which implies the provider’s lengthy haul fleet is stretched skinny.

What do you make of this Edelweiss aircraft swap?