Allergy-friendly airline promotes credentials

Swiss International Air Lines is the first airline in the world to meet the ECARF criteria for ‘allergy-friendly’ airlines.

Swiss has introduced a number of ground and inflight products from May onwards that are specifically designed to enhance the air travel experience for allergy sufferers. These innovations will include new alternative (lactose- and gluten-free) food and drinks, along with changes to the cabin interior.

'Compared to Gulf carriers, European airlines have a longer history of serving passengers and providing specialised care. This new allergy-friendly service is testament to that,' says Mark Pey, country manager Oman and UAE for Swiss.

Swiss flies from Muscat in Oman to Zurich via a short 40-minute stop in Dubai and from Zurich to Muscat via a similar 40-minute break in Dubai, UAE. 80 per cent of their customers are from Dubai.

'We have traffic rights as well, which means we sell tickets between Dubai and Muscat. It’s a three-class product with very reasonable prices and convenient timing.

'Between Dubai and Zurich, which is our most important sector, we transported 2,100 passengers in 2013, and generated revenue of Dh8.6 million ($2.3 million). The daily flights between Dubai and Muscat saw more than 8,000 passengers in 2013, earning us Dh3.1 million ($844,000).'

ECARF CERTIFICATION

SWISS has teamed up with the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF) to offer its guests an even more individualised service product that is particularly geared to travellers with allergies. The new product includes lactose- and gluten-free food and beverage alternatives such as lactose-free coffee cream and a lactose-free version of the popular SWISS chocolate bar, offered as standard on all SWISS flights.

Depending on the length of the flight, SWISS guests with allergies or other intolerances may further request special snacks (candy bars, yoghurt or cakes). Alternative dairy and bread products are available in all SWISS Lounges in Switzerland.

And, as at present, allergy sufferers can order special meals tailored to their needs in all seating classes on long-haul services and in Business Class within Europe up to 24 hours before their scheduled departure.

SWISS is making allergy-friendly modifications to its cabins, too. First and Business Class passengers will now be offered pillows stuffed with synthetic materials as an alternative to the down-filled version. SWISS is also ceasing its use in the cabin of decorative flowers and air fresheners that might cause nose and throat irritations; and the on-board toilets will now feature soaps that are particularly gentle on the skin.

'The numbers of people suffering from allergies have been increasing throughout the industrialised world for several years now,' adds Professor Torsten Zuberbier, the director of ECARF, which is based in Berlin. 'Over 30 per cent of Europe’s population are directly affected by one or more allergies – not to mention those indirectly affected, such as their families. Yet only around 10 per cent of sufferers get the right medical treatment; and allergies are still often not taken seriously, even by the sufferers themselves.'

ONLINE INITIATIVES

Swiss has totally relaunched its online presence. The radically redesigned swiss.com is one of the first airline websites in the world to be fully responsive (i.e. it adapts its display and content to the user’s device), while the site’s new 'World of SWISS' offers a new online brand and product experience. There’s personalised travel advise on offer for end users.