Swiss Air Lines offers cabin crew cash to quit amid staff surplus

Swiss International Air Lines has introduced a voluntary exit scheme for its cabin crew. The programme offers financial incentives of up to 15,000 Swiss francs (€16,603.94) to encourage staff to leave or take unpaid leave. Around 4,000 Zurich-based crew members are eligible for the offer, which was announced last Friday.

The airline currently employs more flight attendants than needed, following the recruitment of roughly 400 extra staff last autumn. Fewer flights than planned have also contributed to the surplus, due to ongoing engine problems and a shortage of pilots.

To address the imbalance, Swiss is offering a pro-rated lump sum of 15,000 francs to those who resign by 30 April and leave by August 2026. Alternatively, employees can opt for 'dormant employment' or the 'Study & Fly' model, both of which include financial support. The company expects the staffing surplus—estimated at up to 300 crew in some months—to resolve by early 2027.

No uptake figures have been reported yet, as the proposal was only shared last week. The airline has stressed that compulsory redundancies are not planned and would only be considered if voluntary measures fail.

The scheme aims to reduce staff numbers without forced layoffs. Eligible employees have until the end of April to decide. Swiss expects the situation to stabilise within the next two years.