SkyWork Airlines debuts in the UK with London City Airport-Bern services from the end of March.

Tuesday 8th March 2011

SkyWork Airlines of Switzerland is making its debut in the UK market with the launch of direct flights from London City Airport to Bern, effective Sunday, 27 March. Its Dornier 328 business turboprop aircraft, seating 31 passengers, will operate Sunday to Friday every evening, enabling passengers at both ends of the route a full business day. From 5th September 2011 the frequency on the route will double to two flights daily, Sunday to Friday.

Fares are on sale now at www.flyskywork.com and via travel agencies. Lead in web fares start at 79 CHF (£52 pounds) each way and SkyWork Airlines anticipates some 90% of its bookings will be made via the website.

The airline, founded in 1983, is bringing 'frills' to the London market with complimentary inflight menus featuring a Swiss themed menu for London originating passengers. Wines and beers will be available for purchase. Importantly and especially attractive for the ski market, SkyWork Airlines is offering a free hold baggage allowance of 20kg per passenger, plus cabin baggage of 8kgs. Skis, boot bags and sports equipment can be carried for a very competitive 26 CHF (£17).

The new service, the only direct flight between London's premier business airport and Switzerland's capital, means that visitors headed for the Bernese Oberland no longer have to travel to Bern via Basel, Zurich or Geneva, saving up to two hours' journey time. Furthermore, with the imminent cessation of London City-Basel services, travellers destined for Basel can take SkyWork Airlines' service and be in Switzerland's second city within 40 minutes by car.

Conveniently located for the Swiss Alps, Bern Airport is an exclusive and efficient airport providing short transfer times to some of Switzerland's finest ski resorts, including Interlaken, Adelboden, Grindelwald, Chateau-d'Oex, Kandersteg, Lenk, Murren and Wengen. The airport has the added benefit of handling a low passenger volume, meaning reduced waiting time at security, baggage reclaim and check-in - ideal for skiers and walkers wishing to spend longer on the slopes and for time-pressed business travellers.

In addition, Bern Airport boasts the cheapest car parking in Switzerland. "There is great prestige flying to London City Airport and we are determined to make a success of this route," said SkyWork Airlines' CEO Tomislav Lang. "We have terrific support from the Bern community and from our home airport. We are proud of our unique offering which we market as 'Your Personal Way to Fly' with a strong emphasis on customer service and a quality in-flight product and look forward to bringing the concept to the UK."

Seven more routes from Bern this year:

SkyWork Airlines is launching seven more routes for the winter timetable to and from Bern Airport. The end of October sees the airline adding regular services to Madrid, Belgrade, Milan Linate, Rome, Budapest, Amsterdam and Vienna. The SkyWork Airlines' team, together with Bern Tourism, will be attending ITB in Berlin during 8-10 March to talk up the new services. Hall 17, Stand 101.

In parallel with the new routes, SkyWork Airlines is expanding its fleet with two more Dornier 328s and two more Bombardier Q400s. "By year end we will have six aircraft," says Lang, noting a second 328 Turboprop comes on line from 10 March. The aircraft is currently undergoing a C check at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, while a second Q400 arrives in May. Two further deliveries are being negotiated for September and October.

Once the Dornier 328 is established on the London City route - and for the first six months SkyWork Airlines is targeting a 60% load factor, the intention is to move up to the 70-seat Q400. Coincident with new routes and aircraft expansion SkyWork Airlines will increase its workforce from 80 to 120 personnel.

About SkyWork Airlines:

SkyWork Airlines was founded in 1983 initially offering flight training and air taxi services from the Gstaad Region with small Cessna executive aircraft. Today it has evolved into a burgeoning regional carrier flying Dornier 328 Turboprop and Bombardier Q400 aircraft. In winter 2009 the airline pioneered its first scheduled flights from Bern to Rotterdam. Services to Barcelona followed in March 2010, followed by Hamburg and Berlin in December 2010.

In 2010 SkyWork Airlines welcomed new investors with a resultant new corporate identity and the addition of flights to Palma Mallorca, Ibiza, Elba and Djerba. SkyWork Airlines has its own travel agency in Bern and is headquartered at Aemmenmattstrasse 43 in Belp, home to 80 personnel. This summer the airline will serve eight destinations, increasing to 12 destinations for the winter 2011 schedule. Your Personal Way to Fly is its claim - a philosophy it implements in every aspect of its operations - on the ground and in the air.

Flight Schedule - Summer 2011:

London City Airport - Bern

Flt No Depart Arrive DaysSX112 1955 2235 12345,7

Bern - London City Airport

Flt No Depart Arrive DaysSX111 1845 1925 12345,7

www.flyskywork.com