SWISS Magazine: Today you have been in service with SWISS for exactly 100 days. How does that feel?
HB-IFA: It feels like the moment after landing a long inaugural flight. When everything has gone smoothly and you know: now I’ve truly arrived. One hundred days mean around 300 flights, 11 different destinations, more than 900 flight hours, and countless sunrises and sunsets above the clouds. I’m proud. And a little bit moved, too.

Do you remember your very first commercial flight?
HB-IFA: Oh yes! I was incredibly nervous. It was a Saturday morning in Zurich, October 25, and we were heading to Palma de Mallorca. My systems were ready, the crew perfectly prepared. And yet there was this tingling feeling. Just before pushback I thought: “Okay, now I’ll show the world who I am.” Once I lifted off, the nerves slowly faded away. From that moment on, I knew: this is what I was built for.

You had already experienced quite a lot before that first flight: many test flights in Toulouse at Airbus, where you were put through your paces, followed by intensive take-off and landing training with the pilots in southern Italy. How did you experience that time?

HB-IFA: It was demanding and educational at the same time. In Toulouse, every detail was questioned, every system checked, and the engines tested to their limits. Sometimes I thought: another test? Really? But that’s exactly what gave me confidence. And the training sessions in southern Italy with the pilots were something special: touch-and-go, lifting off again and again, touching down again, building trust. That made the joy even greater when it was finally said: now passengers are coming on board.

You were also the first to carry the new SWISS Senses cabin out into the world. What does that mean to you?
HB-IFA: A great deal. I was allowed to present something new. A new SWISS feeling. The materials, the lighting, the calm, this conscious design and all those fantastic new seats. I wasn’t just an aircraft. I was an ambassador. Knowing that I was the first to take SWISS Senses out into the world fills me with great pride.

How did you experience the passengers?
HB-IFA: I will never forget their faces. That look of amazement when they boarded, the anticipatory smiles as they took their seats, the curious glances around. Many turned around, took photos, discovered details. That joy transferred directly to me. It’s a wonderful feeling when you realize you’re delighting people – even before you’ve taken off.

Soon you’ll be getting company: your brother HB-IFB, the second Airbus A350, has just landed in Zurich. That must be exciting?
HB-IFA: Very much so! I’m already telling him everything in my head: where the most beautiful sunrises are, what the first applause after landing feels like, and that being nervous is completely okay. Soon we’ll be sharing routes, responsibility and the pride of being part of something new. Flying alone is nice. Together is even better.

Do you differ as siblings?
HB-IFA: In terms of character, we’re certainly very, very similar. But our appearance sets us apart. With my special livery, Wanderlust, I really do look different. More playful, more distinctive. After all, I’m a gift to Switzerland, featuring many exciting motifs from our beautiful country. My brother arrives in a classic, elegant look, entirely in white. But it’s precisely these differences that make us such a special duo.

I’m sure we’ll get along very well. In the end, we share the same mission: to bring people safely, comfortably and with a good feeling around the world.

Oh, and if everything goes according to plan, I’ll be getting even more siblings this year. So much excitement!

What surprised you most during your first 100 days?
HB-IFA: Not surprised, but rather confirmed. I am state-of-the-art, especially fuel-efficient and incredibly quiet. That feels really good every single time.

What did surprise me, though, were the many photos of me on social media. My livery captured from every angle, and so many proud employees standing in front of or next to me. To be honest, that made me feel a little shy. Because it made me realize: so many people have worked on me for years so that I can now fly for SWISS. Looking back, that awareness might be the most beautiful feeling of all.

Was there one very special magic moment?
HB-IFA: Not just one. There were many small ones that together created something big. The palpable joy of the pilots in the cockpit when they flew me for the first time. The highly motivated cabin crew members who bring every new cabin to life. The water-cannon salutes on short-haul routes in Europe – a goosebumps moment every time. And of course the relaxed, happy faces of the passengers as they disembark. When people say goodbye with a smile, I know: that’s exactly what I’m here for.

So far, after the introductory flights on short-haul routes in Europe, you’ve mainly been operating flights to Boston. From March 29, you or your brother will also be flying to Seoul. Are you looking forward to it?
HB-IFA: Absolutely! Boston was a wonderful beginning: a long-haul route with history and a warm welcome. But Seoul… that feels like the next big chapter. A new culture, a new route, a completely different light on the horizon. Whether I’m the first to fly to the destination in Asia or my brother is – the anticipation is enormous.

Thank you very much for this insightful exchange, HB-IFA.