With 340 seats across what were then three classes and a range of more than 13,000 kilometres, the Triple Seven assumed a key role in intercontinental operations from the very beginning. High comfort, large capacity and improved efficiency quickly made it the backbone of our long-haul network.

But numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. Since 2016, the Boeing 777 has been connecting Zurich with major cities in North America, Asia and South America, becoming a familiar companion for countless travellers crossing continents. Ten years on, it still stands at the heart of long-haul operations. For Dominik Jäggi, Head of Flight Operations at SWISS, it remains something truly special.

For Dominik, the Boeing 777 is far more than just an aircraft. "Every flight with the Triple Seven is a unique experience," he says enthusiastically. It starts already on the apron, as the crew bus approaches the aircraft. "I’m impressed every single time when I stand in front of this giant." During the preflight check, he walks the entire length of the aircraft, a stately 75 metres. "And when I look into the massive GE90 engines with their curved blades, I’m always in awe."

"The moment of take-off is particularly intense. The 777 accelerates to 330 kilometres per hour, the nose slowly lifts and the wings begin to carry the aircraft. Shortly afterwards comes the distinctive left turn over Opfikon, at around 30 degrees of bank, still low above the ground," says Dominik. “From a pilot’s perspective, it’s an incredible moment every single time."

Despite its size, the Boeing 777 is surprisingly agile. Dominik describes it as elegant and refined to fly. Above all, though, it is extremely reliable. "In ten years of operation, the twelve aircraft of this type have landed 52,960 times. And only once did we have a serious issue with an engine." On that occasion, the crew had to divert to Iqaluit in the Canadian Arctic and safely landed the aircraft on a snow-covered runway. What followed, Dominik calls an exceptional achievement. Technicians replaced the massive engine directly on site under extreme conditions, with temperatures well below zero. “That’s how we were able to bring the 777 back to Zurich quickly and put it back into service for our passengers."

To this day, the Triple Seven remains a popular long-haul aircraft at SWISS, above all because of its range, which perfectly suits intercontinental destinations. It can carry 320 passengers and more than 20 tonnes of cargo. Thanks to its powerful engines, it can operate even with an impressive take-off weight of over 350 tonnes. This is a major advantage at the topographically demanding Zurich Airport. "The 777 is very robust and at the same time remarkably quiet in operation."

Dominik still vividly remembers the day the first 777 landed, even though he wasn’t in the cockpit himself. “We were on holiday at the time and watched from afar on a livestream as our new flagship touched down in Zurich." For him, it was a deeply emotional moment. "Seeing this aircraft land in our colours for the first time is something you never forget."

Since its arrival in 2016, the Boeing 777 has written countless stories across oceans, deserts and mountain ranges, and around the globe. We have summarised the most exciting figures and facts from a decade of Boeing 777 operations at SWISS in an infographic.