Swiss airline Edelweiss announced a strategic expansion of its winter flight schedule this Thursday, adding three new vacation destinations and strengthening its presence on both long-haul and short-haul routes. Highlights include Luleå in Sweden, as well as São Vicente and Praia in Cape Verde, alongside a significant increase in frequencies to key destinations.
Luleå: Arctic Adventures by the Frozen Sea
Located in northern Sweden, Luleå becomes a gateway to Swedish Lapland. This city not only offers classic winter experiences like the Northern Lights, dog sledding, and cross-country skiing but also boasts a unique location by the frozen sea, enabling activities such as ice driving and icebreaker excursions.
Additionally, its UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town, Gammelstad, and excellent infrastructure make Luleå the ideal starting point for routes to Kiruna, Abisko, or the Finnish border.
São Vicente and Praia: The Other Side of Cape Verde
Edelweiss, which already operates flights to Sal and Boa Vista, now adds São Vicente and Praia to its network. São Vicente, along with the neighboring island of Santo Antão, is a natural paradise for hikers, well-connected by ferry. Many island tours to other parts of the archipelago depart from here.
Meanwhile, Praia, the political and economic capital of Cape Verde, is situated on the island of Santiago, considered the richest in history and culture in the country. From Praia, travelers can visit the island of Fogo, famous for its active volcano.
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Long-Haul Flight Enhancements
The addition of the third and fourth Airbus A350 aircraft allows Edelweiss to significantly improve its long-haul network:
- Oman: Direct flights to Muscat and Salalah from September to May.
- Sri Lanka: Colombo resumes non-stop flights after three years, now with two weekly frequencies.
- Caribbean and Africa: Punta Cana increases to three weekly flights; Puerto Plata, Montego Bay, and Cape Town see higher frequencies. Phuket will operate four flights weekly starting in January. All flights to the Maldives will now be non-stop.
More Options for Short-Haul Routes
Europe and North Africa will also see notable expansions:
Southern Europe
- Canary Islands: Gran Canaria and Tenerife will have up to 11 weekly flights. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, up to 4; La Palma, 2.
- Mainland Spain: Bilbao will operate year-round; Palma de Mallorca, up to 6 weekly flights.
- Balkans: Pristina (up to 14), Skopje (4), Split (3), and Larnaca (8) with increased frequencies.
- Italy: Catania and Lamezia will maintain weekly flights year-round.
Scandinavia and the Baltics
- Finland and Norway: The season starts earlier for Rovaniemi and Ivalo. Kittilä, Kuusamo, Tromsø, and Reykjavik will continue operations. Evenes/Lofoten will add a second weekly frequency in the second half of winter.
United Kingdom
Bristol will have two weekly flights in February. Flights to Edinburgh will also increase.
North Africa and Egypt: Cultural and Sun Destinations
- Morocco: Marrakesh will have up to 6 weekly flights, and Agadir, 2.
- Egypt: Hurghada will operate up to 13 flights, Marsa Alam 4, Sharm El Sheikh 2, Luxor 1, and Giza/Cairo Sphinx 2. The latter’s schedule is tailored for cultural tours.
Extended Season for Autumn Destinations
Edelweiss is also extending operations on popular autumn routes into November, including Heraklion, Kalamata, Antalya, Cagliari, and Ponta Delgada.
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