Swiss International Air Lines CEO Christoph Franz told ATWOnline at the Star Alliance meeting in Istanbul earlier this month that the carrier no longer is in a crisis situation but that it will have to add liquidity to be safely positioned for the future. It will stay cautious in 2007 and not open any new long-haul destinations until 2008, he said. "We are not satisfied," he added. "It is not our goal to just maintain our position. We have to increase our liquidity in this more competitive environment." He said that on the cost side most improvements already have been implemented, but that "there are many things to make better" in terms of cost efficiency around the company. He cited a reduction in aircraft check turnaround times from 27 to 23 days as an example.

fonte: ATW