Swiss cabin crews refuse to mention Lufthansa Group in announcements

Swiss cabin crews are subtly resisting the Lufthansa Group's directive to mention the parent company in onboard announcements. While passengers might not notice, this omission symbolizes a quiet defiance and pride in Swiss's distinct identity.

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Our onboard announcements are standardized and apply to all crews.

Since February, flight attendants have been instructed to inform passengers that Swiss is part of the Lufthansa Group, a change from previously only mentioning Star Alliance membership. Lufthansa, headquartered in Frankfurt, mandated this to emphasize its leadership. Swiss has cited a new brand identity, visible across its aircraft, lounges, and check-in counters, as the reason for this practice.

However, multiple sources confirm that cabin personnel frequently ignore this instruction, choosing not to mention Lufthansa Group. This act of silent protest stems from a lack of identification with the parent company. Even Swiss Operations Chief Oliver Buchhofer has addressed the issue.

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At the same time, we experience every day how strongly our employees identify with Swiss.

A Swiss spokesperson acknowledged the differing opinions within the company regarding such matters. While confirming the standardized announcements include the Lufthansa Group mention, the airline also noted the strong identification employees have with Swiss. The company stated it views this as an opportunity to engage in dialogue and explain the background.

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There are different opinions on many topics within Swiss, as in any company.

Employees express a sense of resignation, with Frankfurt's influence felt across various aspects of Swiss operations. This sentiment arises despite the company's profitability, fueling concerns that Swiss might eventually be fully absorbed into the Lufthansa Group, a prospect that seems to be a growing fear among staff.

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We see this as an opportunity to engage in dialogue and explain the background.